Hafeez Shaikh removed from National Finance Commission

ISLAMABAD: Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh has been removed from the National Finance Commission.

A new notification on the formation of NFC has been submitted in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) by the attorney general. The earlier notification appointing Shaikh to the commission, which had been challenged in court, has now been withdrawn.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MNA Mohsin Shahnawaz Ranjha argued the NFC had been formed without consulting all stakeholders.

Attorney-General Khalid Jawed Khan said he also had issues with the last NFC notification as the bench appreciated his remarks. Ranjha said the government has to work according to the Constitution.

The PML-N had objected to Hafeez Sheikh chairing the NFC as the finance adviser, as traditionally the finance minister chairs the NFC. PML-N leader Khurrum Dastgir petition against NFC formation has been also been concluded.

Earlier on 19th May, PML-N had challenged the formation of 10th NFC in the Islamabad High Court. The petition stated that the responsibility of equitable distribution of financial resources between the federation and provinces lies with the NFC.

The president has constituted an 11-member commission on 23rd April. According to PML-N’s petition, it was necessary to consult the governors and the finance adviser and finance secretary The petition argued that members cannot be appointed in violation of the procedure laid down in Article 160 of the Constitution.

The plea sated the finance adviser was given the authority to chair meetings in the absence of the finance minister but according to the law, in the absence of a finance minister, NFC’s actions would be unconstitutional and without effect.