ISLAMABAD – In a dramatic turn of events, Sher Afzal Marwat has been replaced with Sheikh Waqas Akram as the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman.
The decision was made by the political committee of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) after which Sher Afzazl Marwat and Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) leader Hamid Raza are out of the race for the PAC chairmanship.
Interestingly, Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf founder Imran Khan had proposed Marwat for the top role; however, following criticism from party leadership, the incarcerated leader suggested Hamid Raza for the position.
When the debate was ongoing, PTI Secretary General and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, Omar Ayub Khan, threw weight behind Marwat citing Imran Khan’s support for him.
Marwat’s nomination for the role was opposed by leading party figures including Asad Qaiser, Waqas Akram, Junaid Akbar, and Zain Qureshi; they were of the opinion that Marwat should not be occupying the slot.
PTI’s political committee convened in Islamabad on Friday night under its new chairman to discuss the nomination. Nine out of the 19 committee members, led by Omar Ayub, voted for Shaikh Waqas, while seven supported Sher Afzal Marwat.
The decision to replace Marwat with Waqas Akram was criticised by the former who termed it a ‘conspiracy by the PTI establishment’.
The role of PAC Chairman is very pivotal considering that it plays a crucial role in upholding transparency and accountability within Ministries, Divisions, and Public Sector Organizations in Pakistan. Its responsibilities include scrutiny of the audit paras and issuing directives accordingly.