Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) on Thursday nominated party’s parliamentary leader Rana Tanveer for the office of chairman of the National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

The decision was made by PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif after holding consultations with party supremo Nawaz Sharif.

While Tanveer seems set to replace Shehbaz as PAC chairman, the party has nominated former foreign minister Khawaja Asif as its new parliamentary leader.

Shehbaz was elected as PAC chairman in December, after a four-month-long tussle between the treasury and opposition benches over the committee chairmanship.

Later, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf  (PTI) conceded to the opposition’s demand but on the condition that special panels probing the PML-N government’s expenditure would be headed by a member from the treasury bench.

Prime Minister Imran Khan did not want to see Shehbaz as PAC chairman, since the PAC is the most powerful body of the parliament that takes decisions on the audit reports finalised by the department of the Auditor General of Pakistan.

Rana Tanveer is a member of the National Assembly from NA-120, Sheikhupura-II. He has previously served as Minister for Defence Production and Minister for Science and Technology.

He also worked as Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Finance from 1997 to 1999, as well as Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister.