September 20, 2008	Saturday	Ramazan 19, 1429

ISLAMABAD, Sept 19: Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan was elected unopposed as chairman of the Public Accounts Committee on Friday.

Soon after his election, Chaudhry Nisar said: “We look forward to President Asif Ali Zardari’s maiden address to the joint session of parliament on Saturday with the hope that he will make it a historic event by announcing restoration of the pre-Nov 3 judiciary and repeal of the 17th Amendment and stepping down as PPP co-chairman to become the president of the entire nation.”

He said the opposition would not protest during the president’s speech.

The election was conducted by National Assembly Secretary Karamat Hussain Niazi. Chairman of the house committee on foreign affairs Asfandyar Wali Khan proposed the name of Chaudhry Nisar, seconded by Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada.

Chaudhry Nisar said his election was in accordance with the Charter of the Democracy signed by late Benazir Bhutto and PML-N chief Mian Nawaz Sharif.

He said he would try to come up to the expectations of the nation. He said that accountability would be across the board and regardless of affiliation.

The PAC is one of the most powerful house committees which keeps an eye on administrative and financial irregularities in various government departments and is authorised to summon and question the head of any department.