Govt. not to obstruct Opposition leader in assuming PAC Chairmanship: Shah Mahmood

ISLAMABAD, Dec 13 (APP):Minister for Foreign Affairs Makhdoom Shah
Mahmood Hussain Qureshi has said that government would not obstruct the leader of the Opposition in assuming the Chairmanship of Public Accounts Committee.
He stated this on Thursday while speaking in National
Assembly about issue in delay of establishing Standing Committees in wake of Oppositions’
viewpoint to appoint Leader of the Opposition as Chairman Public Accounts
Committee.
The Foreign Minister said “we leave it to you to decide
what is the way forward. We suggest you to appoint someone else but if you
(Leader of the Opposition) want to be Chairman PAC, we will not obstruct in the
interest of democracy.”
He said that PAC would have to give opinion about audit
paras of government expenses during the last tenure, adding it would be improper that
leader of the Opposition was heading the Committee reviewing
the audit-paras of PML-N tenure.
The minister suggested to constitute special committee to
look into the audit-paras related to the expenses or projects of PML-N tenure which
would not be headed by the leader of the Opposition.
It is mutual responsibility of treasury and Opposition
benches to run the proceedings of the House and to ensure legislation in the interest
of the people, he maintained.
Shah Mahmood said that all of us would have to sit together
to find a way out and ensure smooth proceedings of the National Assembly.
The minister said it was the beauty of democracy that parliamentary
rules and traditions should be considered in running the affairs
of the House.
“It has become the parliamentary tradition that Leader of the House is nominated
as Chairman PAC but it will be better to have accountability through a person facing no controversy,” he remarked.
The minister said that issue of formation of Standing Committees
had been continuously discussed with Minister for Defence Pervez Khattak and
State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs.
”Issue has been taken up with the Prime Minister today and entire situation is told to him,” he said adding that
it was now on the disposal of Opposition leader to decide about the Chairmanship of PAC.