Parliamentarians were given a detailed and comprehensive briefing on national security by military, intelligence top brass.
The in-camera meeting of Parliamentary Committee on National Security chaired by NA Speaker Asad Qaiser was held at Parliament House.
Senior military leadership including COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Director-General of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed and DGISPR Major General Babar Iftikhar attended the all-important meeting and briefed the lawmakers on national security related issues (both domestic and external), Kashmir and most notably Afghanistan issue.
The main briefing was given by DG ISI Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed.
The session was attended by various opposition figures including NA Leader of the Opposition Shehbaz Sharif, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Senator Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, JUI-F Parliamentary leader Maulana Asad Mahmood, and ANP leader Ameer Haider Azam Khan Hoti.
In addition to the 29 members of the committee, some 16 legislators were specially invited to attend the in-camera briefing.
Federal ministers Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Fawad Chaudhry, Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Pervez Khattak also attended the meeting.
However, PM Imran Khan did not attending the meeting.
Since the session was highly confidential, carrying of mobile phones inside the meeting room is prohibited, therefore, the phones of all participants were taken away, whereas the audio and video recording of the meeting will be sealed before the NA Speaker.
Afghanistan Issue
DG ISI Lt Gen Faiz Hameed gave a briefing on the current situation in Afghanistan and the challenges due to the evolving nature of developments in the region. Parliamentarians were informed that Pakistan played a highly positive and responsible role in the Afghan peace process.
The session was told that Pakistan would welcome a government that was truly representative of the Afghan people and that it would continue its responsible role for peace in Afghanistan.
Pakistan would welcome a government that was truly representative of the Afghan people and that it would continue its responsible role for peace in Afghanistan.
The briefing stressed that Pakistan’s territory is not being used in the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan that Afghanistan’s land must also be not used against Pakistan.
Around 90% Pak-Afghan border has been fenced while an effective system of customs and border control is also being enforced, the meeting was told.
The participants were also apprised that Pakistan would welcome a government that was truly representative of the Afghan people and that it would continue its responsible role for peace in Afghanistan.
Army Supports Government’s Stance on US Bases Issue
Responding to media queries regarding the in-camera briefing, COAS General Bajwa reiterated full support for government’s stance on US bases issue.
The Army Chief echoed the government in saying no base would be given to the US.
Parliamentarians Express ‘Satisfaction’ Over DG ISI’s Briefing
They viewed that such meetings not only played an important role in evolving national consensus on important national issues but also created harmony on various national issues.
The briefing also featured a question and answer session wherein the members also put forwarded their suggestions. The recommendations would be considered as an important part of security policy.
Leader of the Opposition in the NA Shahbaz Sharif, talking to media during a break, said he was satisfied by the briefing given during the meeting, but refrained from sharing any details.
Sources say that one more session of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS) will be held before Eid where recommendations will be reviewed for the federal government.
Govt And Opposition On The ‘Same Page’ Over National Security Issues
Federal Interior Minister – Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has said that that the government and the opposition are on the same page over national security matters.
Lawmakers from both treasury and opposition benches have the same view over the national security matters. The interior minister said that the entire nation stands with the Pakistan Army.
Prior to the meeting, NA Speaker Asad Qaiser, Federal Minister Fawad Chaudhry met with senior military leadership including COAS General Bajwa, and DG ISPR Maj Gen Babar Iftikhar to mull over matters of mutual interest and national security.
The meeting comes as recent spike in violence in neighboring Afghanistan amid Taliban’s advance and US troops’ withdrawal, had raised eyebrows in Pakistan regarding regional peace and stability and its repercussions on Pakistan, especially national security.
Taking credit for the meeting, PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto had welcomed the NA Speaker Asad Qasier’s decision to convene the all-important in-camera briefing on national security.
Meanwhile, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed had earlier said that Pakistani politics will witness a significant change following the revelations made in the in-camera meeting of Parliamentary Committee on National Security.
