Finally, after a three-month delay, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq has constituted 40 standing committees, including the powerful Public Accounts Committee (PAC). The members’ names have been finalised in accordance with a motion adopted in the National Assembly on May 17.
According to a PML-N source, the opposition Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) will chair 10 committees, including the PAC, while PML-N will chair 13 committees. The PPP and MQM-P will chair eight and two committees, respectively. Negotiations are ongoing regarding the distribution of chairmanships among the ruling coalition parties.
Despite initial disputes, there seems to be agreement on offering the PAC chairmanship to the SIC, maintaining a tradition from the Charter of Democracy. Notably, the PAC members include politicians from different parties, with Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb serving as an ex-officio member.
The formation of these committees was crucial for legislative efficiency, as their delay was impeding the assembly’s work. However, with the committees now in place, parliamentary proceedings are set to resume smoothly.
Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2024
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