Tanvir to replace Shehbaz as PAC chief.

Byline: Javaid-ur-Rahman

ISLAMABAD -- The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz yesterday made two key changes suggesting the party head Shehbaz Sharif might stay abroad for a longer time than expected.

In a surprise move, Shehbaz stepped down as chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the National Assemble and his party nominated Rana Tanvir Hussain for this position. The opposition party also nominated Khawaja Asif as parliamentary leader in the House.

The sudden changes in the top position prompted the treasury members to comment that the Leader of the Opposition, who is in London and was scheduled to return on May 7, might not return soon.

Shehbaz Sharif is currently in London and PML-N sources said his programme of return had been changed on the medical grounds. They said Shehbaz decided to step down as PAC head and made the changes in the party positions after consultation with his brother and party supremo Nawaz Sharif.

National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaisar said his office was yet to receive any request from the opposition regarding change in chairmanship of PAC. 'I will take the decision once a request is made,' he said.

The opposition party is likely to write to the speaker today (Friday) for the formal notification about the appointment of the new PAC chairman and party's Parliamentary Leader in the assembly.

The party met at the Parliament House building with PML-N chairman Raja Zafarul Haq in the chair and decided to withdraw name of the Leader of Opposition in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif.

Sources said that two resolutions for the appointment of PAC chairman and party's parliamentary leader were presented by Ahsan Iqbal and Khurram Dastagir and both were accepted unanimously.

Shahbaz Sharif was elected PAC chairman five months ago, after a long dispute over his nomination with the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, which maintained...