IHC reserves verdict on Shahbaz's appointment as PAC chairman

The deadlock over the working of Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is expected to end soon after Islamabad High Court (IHC) Monday reserved a verdict on the appointment of opposition leader Shahbaz Sharif as the PAC chairman.

The petition was filed by lawyer Riaz Hanif Rahi days after the Pakistan government accepted the opposition demand for the formation of House Standing Committees headed by Shahbaz.

The petitioner argued that Shahbaz's appointment as the chairman of the committee is illegal, adding that producing the PML-N leader's production orders was a violation of accountability laws.

"Let's have confidence in parliament and wait for our orders," Dawn quoted IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah as saying.

The PAC remains dysfunctional since May last year after the previous National Assembly completed its five-year term.

Defending his appointment, Shahbaz said, "It does not matter as to who moved forward and who moved backwards rather it's been a parliamentary tradition that the opposition leader heads the PAC."

The position of PAC chairman was last held by Pakistan People Party leader Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah.