KATHMANDU: Independent lawmaker Amresh Kumar Singh has expressed strong criticism of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), accusing it of acting as a mere shadow of the government rather than serving its intended purpose as a check on governmental activities. Singh made these statements during a meeting of the committee held on Sunday.

“The PAC should not be a shadow of the government. It should be a shadow of Parliament. Right now, it is just a reflection of the government,” Singh remarked, highlighting concerns about the committee’s independence.

Singh also raised objections regarding the PAC’s failure to summon key government officials to the meeting, particularly the Prime Minister and the Chief Secretary. He questioned why, despite ongoing issues, these officials had not been called in for two years.

“Why has the PAC failed to summon the Prime Minister and Chief Secretary? The committee behaves as though the Prime Minister is above the law, saying he should not be called at all,” Singh questioned, expressing dissatisfaction with the PAC’s approach.

Reflecting on the past, Singh noted that while the PAC was once feared, this is no longer the case. “The PAC now facilitates corruption instead of controlling it. If it has taken any action to curb corruption, I challenge them to show me,” he added.

Singh also suggested that committees should limit themselves to no more than three terms of reference (ToRs) when being formed, emphasizing a need for clear and focused mandates.

Currently, the PAC is engaged in discussions regarding the irregularities in the construction of Pokhara International Airport.