Opposition parties think that the participation of Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance Hafeez Shaikh in sensitive meetings, particularly National Security Committee (NSC) without taking an oath is a security breach. Talking to Business Recorder, Pakistan People's Party (PPP) secretary-general Farhatullah Babar said that although the constitution allows the Prime Minister to appoint up to five advisers, yet without taking oath their participation in sensitive meetings particularly on national security raises serious questions.
He said that the other advisers are not required to attend sensitive meetings such as the NSC but the Adviser on Finance is required to participate in these meetings. "We have already given our response on the appointment of Hafeez Shaikh as adviser on finance and we believe that it is within the discretionary powers of the Prime Minister and he can keep up to five advisers in his cabinet. But when it comes to sensitive matters pertaining to national security, then questions do arise on participation of advisers in such meetings," Babar said.
He said that the government should come up with an explanation as to why Hafeez Shaikh has not been administered the oath so far, or sworn to secrecy as it involves state secrets.
"Not only PPP, but other parties have also demanded that he [Shaikh] should be administered the oath," Babar added. Hafeez Shaikh, who also served as finance minister during the PPP's previous government from 18 March 2010 to 19 February 2013, assumed the charge as adviser on finance on April 20, 2019 after Asad Umar stepped down as the finance minister. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) vice president Mushahidullah Khan said that the PTI government should explain why it has violated the constitution by allowing a person to participate in a meeting of National Security Committee who is yet to take the oath of his position.
A National Security Committee chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan on May 22, 2019 was attended by the adviser on finance, besides senior cabinet ministers and the three services chiefs. "We believe that he should be administered the oath so that there is no violation of the constitution and to make it sure that the official secrets pertaining to national security and other sensitive matters are protected under the Official Secret Act," he asserted.
He said that Shaikh should also be inducted in the PTI prior to making him a senator, which will enable the government to appoint him as the finance minister.
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