Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) is weighing a return to parliamentary standing committees days after the appointment of leaders of the opposition in both the National Assembly and the Senate, though the final decision remains linked to the consent of the party’s jailed founder, Imran Khan.
Read More: PTI senators resign from key standing committees
Party sources say a majority of PTI lawmakers are now in favour of rejoining the committees, particularly to regain the chairmanship of key forums such as the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which they believe would allow the party to exercise effective parliamentary oversight and challenge government policies.
Back to the Table? PTI Considers Re-Entering Parliamentary Committees as Political Pressure Mounts
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PTI withdrew from all standing committees in both houses of parliament in August last year on the instructions of Mr Khan, relinquishing chairmanships of more than a dozen committees in the National Assembly and five in the Senate. Several legislators now believe the decision weakened the party’s role in parliament and allowed the ruling coalition to operate without meaningful scrutiny.
A senior PTI leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, said many pending party decisions were tied to a meeting between Mr Khan and PTI legislators in jail. He added that party leaders wanted to convince the former prime minister that exiting the committees, particularly the PAC, had been a strategic mistake. According to him, PTI should also have retained its presence in the finance, law and justice, and human rights committees.
PTI Chief Whip Aamir Dogar confirmed that all key decisions depended on a meeting with Mr Khan. Meanwhile, newly appointed opposition leader in the National Assembly Mehmood Achakzai declined to comment on the matter, while PTI acting chairman Barrister Gohar Ali said the party’s parliamentary committee would take a decision.
Political analysts believe Mr Khan is likely to decide on the issue after the party’s planned countrywide protest on February 8. Observers note that PTI’s withdrawal from the committees did not affect parliamentary functioning, as replacements were made from treasury benches, leaving PTI politically disadvantaged.
Read More:PTI senators begin quitting standing panels
Ahmed Bilal Mehboob of the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency said PTI’s return to committees was essential for democratic oversight, but noted that the final authority rested with Mr Khan.