Appointment of Shehbaz as PAC chairman challenged in LHC

The appointment of the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif as the chairman of Public Accounts Committee (PAC) was challenged on Friday in the Lahore High Court (LHC).

Advocate Azhar Siddiqui challenged the appointment of Sharif in the high court and wrote in his petition that the Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) president was not fit to serve as the PAC chairman. He argued that the PML-N leader was facing corruption references filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). In his petition, Siddiqui requested the LHC to declare Sharif's appointment as the chairman null and void, local media reported.

Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid had also hinted of filing a petition in the Supreme Court against Sharif's appointment as the chairman of the committee. Speaking to the media, Rashid contended that the PML-N leader's appointment was contrary to the constitution of Pakistan.

On December 13, the deadlock between the government and the opposition regarding the post of PAC chairman was broken when the government conceded to the wishes of the opposition and allowed them to nominate Sharif as the PAC chairman.

Sharif is expected to chair the first meeting of PAC today.