A special three-member committee is investigating the proceedings of Public Accounts Committee in connection with the 2006-07 audit paras settled following the directions by the National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Pakistan Today has learnt through reliable sources.
Sources close to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) told the scribe that the NA speaker was having strong doubts in his mind regarding the performance – specially the issuance of directives-by the top parliamentary committee – so he had formulated a three-member special committee to probe into the matter.
Sadiq, former PAC member, believes that previously in most of the cases the orders issued by PAC were different from what were published and dispatched amid benefiting those feared to be proven guilty.
The committee at present is recording the statements by the various audit and PAC officials and held recently the investigative sittings with PAC Deputy Secretary Romana Kakar and Mr Salamat.
The body is also revising the recordings of the proceedings regarding the Public Accounts Committee, in some specific cases.
Comprising the two officials from the former PACs, the body is likely to forward its findings in form of a report to the speaker, who doubts that some of the cases were settled out of PAC in personal meetings. Former PAC chairman Nadeem Afzal Gondal was also part of the deals regarding audit paras and objections for the years 2006-07.
The sources also pointed out that the NA secretary was also believed to be part of some of the deals settled out of merit, however, the real situation would be cleared after the issuance of the detailed report by next week.
According to the 18th Amendment, the position of the PAC chairman is meant for the opposition, however, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz-led government is desirous of having the position despite being in government.
In the coming days, the important audit paras and objections regarding the Pakistan People’s Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz will go under review.