PM Shehbaz pledges to uproot scourge of terrorism from Pakistan
Pakistan
Army chief Gen Asim Munir and ISI DG Asim Malik among the participants
PM pays tribute to those who sacrificed their lives for the country
Parties of opposition alliance stay away from key meeting
PTI boycotted meeting after its demand of meeting with Imran Khan was not entertained
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday vowed to uproot the scourge of terrorism from Pakistan saying "peace, order and security will be ensured in the country."
The premier was speaking to the participants in an in-camera meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security here at Parliament House.
Chief of Army Staff Gen Asim Munir and Inter-Services Intelligence Director General Asim Malik also attended the meeting.
The prime minister said there’s no room for terrorism on the soil of Pakistan. “We cannot forget the sacrifices of our martyrs. We are determined to cleanse the country of terrorism. We will ensure peace, order and security in the country.”
Prime Minister Shehbaz said “we have to sit and find a lasting and sustainable solution to this scourge.”
He said the entire nation was united in the war against terrorism and would defeat it at all costs.
The prime minister praised state's actions against terrorism. He paid tribute on behalf of the nation to those who sacrificed their lives for the country.
It would have been nice had the opposition attended the meeting on national security, he said.
Earlier, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq delivered the opening remarks and welcomed the participants.
After the briefing by the IB (Intelligence Bureau) DG, Bilawal and other parliamentary leaders were expected to express their views.
A question and answer session and briefing by the military leadership and heads of intelligence agencies was also planned.
COAS ASIM, ISI DG ATTEND MEETING
Chief of Army Staff Gen Asim Munir and Inter-Services Intelligence Director General Asim Malik earlier reached Parliament House to attend the meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security.
The meeting was held under the chairmanship of National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif also reached parliament to attend the meeting.
The governor and chief minister of Balochistan, the KP governor and the IGs of all four provinces also reached Parliament House. All 38 members of the federal cabinet also participated in the meeting.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Senate Chairman Yousaf Raza Gilani, Faisal Vawda, MQM’s Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Jam Kamal, prime minister of Azad Kashmir and chief minister of Gilgit-Baltistan also attended the meeting.
Headed by Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, 16 members of the PPP were in attendance. Two members of the PML-Q, Abdul Aleem Khan of the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party, Senator Jan Muhammad of the National Party, and Ijaz-ul-Haq of the PML-N also participated.
According to sources, PTI’s Bashir Khan reached the House but left a few minutes later.
Also read: Govt in quest of 'silver bullet' at in-camera national security meeting today
An in-camera meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security was held at Parliament House. National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq convened the meeting on the advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the aftermath of surge in terror incidents, especially Jaffar Express tragedy.
A comprehensive briefing on the country’s security situation was given to the committee members.
Security arrangements were made at Parliament House and nearby areas for the all-important meeting, which is expected to come up with concrete plan of action to fight against terrorism.
OPPOSITION STAYS AWAY FROM SITTING
Parties of opposition alliance including Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) and Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) announced boycott of the meeting.
Mahmood Khan Achakzai (PkMAP), Sahibzada Hamid Raza (SIC), Allama Nasir Abbas (MWM) and Sardar Akhtar Mengal (BNP-M) did not attend the meeting in protest against differences with the government.
The PTI decided to boycott the meeting after its demand was not entertained. The political committee of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) set condition of allowing meeting with party founder Imran Khan ahead of participation in the security session.
In a statement, the PTI political committee stated that the party leadership should be allowed to meet the incarcerated leader. The PTI political committee, however, allowed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur to participate in the national security meeting.
Earlier, Opposition leader in the National Assembly Omar Ayub Khan had written a letter to NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, demanding that he should play his role in arranging a meeting between party leaders with Imran Khan.
Sources said PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar and several other leaders were in favour of attending the session whereas Junaid Akbar called for consultation with the PTI founder.
The PTI submitted a list of 14 names to the National Assembly speaker for meeting with Imran Khan.
They are Barrister Gohar, Asad Qaiser, Zartaj Gul, Sahibzada Hamid Raza, Amir Dogar, Sanaullah Mastikhel, Ali Muhammad Khan, Senators Ali Zafar, Humayun Muhammad and Aon Abbas Buppi.
