The Parliamentary Committee on National Security is set to hold an in-camera meeting today (Tuesday) where senior military officials will brief lawmakers on the current security situation in the country.
According to a spokesperson for the National Assembly, the meeting’s timing has been adjusted to respect the sanctity of the holy month of Ramazan. It is now scheduled to begin at 11 am in the National Assembly Hall.
The session, which has been convened on the recommendation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, will be attended by parliamentary leaders from all political parties, their designated representatives, and key cabinet members.
PTI’s Conditional Participation
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has received approval from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Political Committee to attend the meeting. However, PTI’s full participation in the session is contingent on securing a meeting with the party’s founding chairman, Imran Khan.
After a meeting of the political committee, PTI leader Sheikh Waqas Akram stated that the party had unanimously decided to attend the session only if a meeting with Imran Khan was arranged. “PTI will attend only if a meeting with the founding chairman is granted,” he confirmed.
Focus on Escalating Security Concerns
The meeting comes at a time of rising terrorist incidents across Pakistan, particularly in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The government called for the security briefing following the hijacking of the Jaffar Express, which resulted in at least 31 casualties.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq to chair the meeting, which will also include Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Syed Asim Munir. The military leadership is expected to provide an in-depth evaluation of the security situation, particularly in areas affected by increasing violence.
Due to the absence of a formally constituted parliamentary committee on national security, members of the Standing Committees on Defence and Foreign Affairs, along with chief ministers from all four provinces and parliamentary leaders, will also be present.
Planned Operations Against Terror Groups
Meanwhile, government sources indicate that authorities are considering launching a large-scale operation against militant groups, including the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), which has been responsible for recent attacks in Balochistan.
Rana Ahsan Afzal, an aide to the prime minister, confirmed that talks are underway for a Multi-Party Conference (MPC) to discuss security challenges. He expressed hope that all political stakeholders would be invited to the proposed conference.
