Prime Minister Imran Khan has ‘stopped’ National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal from appearing before the National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The prime minister in his directive, which was conveyed during the PAC meeting on Thursday, ordered NAB Finance Director General to attend the NA panel meeting instead and brief the members.

The members of the National Assembly's Public Accounts Committee showed their indignation over NAB Chairman Justice Javed Iqbal’s non-appearance before the committee prompting the members to refuse getting a briefing from the watchdog’s director general in his stead.

PAC Chairman Rana Tanveer Hussain who presided over the meeting adjourned the session when the members declined to be briefed by the NAB DG. The panel also decided to summon the NAB chairman again in the next hearing.

During the session, a letter from NAB Chief Justice ® Iqbal was presented which read that Prime Minister Imran Khan had given permission that instead of NAB head, the DG of the watchdog could represent him in the meeting.

While raising an objection, PAC member Noor Alam said if the letter was from the prime minister then it should have been written by the cabinet division. It’s impossible that the principal accounting officer is to be represented by some other officer, he added. 

PPP Senator Sherry Rehman rued that the meeting was called on the wish of the anti-graft body’s chief.

During last PAC meeting, Mr Iqbal who appeared before the committee after skipping it so many times in the past, had requested to give an in-camera briefing which was accepted by the committee chairman. 

But Instead of NAB chief, the meeting was attended today by the director general of NAB Finance (HQ).

During the meeting, the PAC members wanted to keep the briefing open. But the chairman insisted to keep it in-camera. He asked the media persons to leave the place as session was in-camera telling them that he would update them later. 

Ms Rehman contested that the briefing should be open. But Mr Tanveer retorted that the briefing must have contained something which could not be revealed in front of everybody.

Reporter Usman Khan