The in-Camera Session of National Security today held at Parliament heading by Speaker Raja Parvez Ashraf.
In-camera session of the National Assembly the top military brass brief the Parliamentarians on ongoing security situation in the country.
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All federal ministers, advisers, MNAs and chief ministers participated in national security meeting. Secretaries of interior, foreign affairs, finance, defence and information and broadcasting also attended the meeting.
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Chief Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmed Anjum gave a detailed overview of the current situation to the members.
At the start of the meeting, the participants paid tribute to those who were martyred in the Gayari sector tragedy on 7th April 2012.
COAS Address
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Asim Munir on Friday said people of Pakistan were the source of power and their opinion was evident in the form of the constitution and the parliament.
COAS Munir said the parliament and the constitution reflected people’s opinion adding that people showed it through the constitution and the parliament. “Sovereignty belongs to Allah and He has vested power in the constitution,” he added.
He said the elected representatives should set a direction. “The army will support them in achieving their goals,” he added.
The army chief said elected representatives would use the power vested in them by the constitution. He also paid tribute to those who promulgated the 1973 Constitution.
He said the army was not about to launch a new operation but it was a reflection of the unflinching trust of people in the army. “There is no more a no-go area in the country,” he added. It was made possible, he said, by the sacrifices paid by martyrs.
COAS went on to say that negotiations with terrorists resulted in their emergence adding that it was a wrong decision to hold talks with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). “Intelligence-based operations are being conducted on daily basis to counter terrorism,” he added.
He concluded by saying we should get out of the debate of “New Pakistan” and “Old Pakistan” and should talk about “Our [united] Pakistan”.
Premier Shehbaz Sharif Address
Speaking in the National Assembly, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the lawmakers would be allowed to raise their questions and concerns regarding security situation at the special session.
‘I salute the martyrs of Pakistan’s forces,” said Prime Minister Shehebaz Sharif in the meeting.
“The peace reinstated by martyrs’ sacrifices was wasted [by the PTI] in four years,” he added.
The PM questioned where the amount earmarked for anti-terrorism was spent. He also brought funds released by provinces for FATA reforms into question.
He resolved to seek answers to funds allocated to KP for security.
Remember that in-camera session of National Assembly comes days after the National Security Committee (NSC) approved a multi-pronged comprehensive operation with the support of the government and the nation to eradicate the menace of terrorism from the country with a new resolve, determination and valour.
The federal ministers, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, services chiefs and high-ranking officers of the departments concerned attended the meeting, which was a continuation of the meeting held after the terrorist attack on the Peshawar Police Lines on 2nd January 2023.
Emphasizing comprehensive national security, it was declared that relief to the people was of central importance. The forum was told that the government was taking measures in this connection.
The meeting acknowledged the sacrifices and efforts of the security forces for ensuring permanent peace for the nation.
The committee proclaimed that the recent wave of terrorism was the result of the soft corner and the absence of a well-thought-out policy against the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which was declared a terrorist organization but against the public expectations and wishes, under the previous policy terrorists were allowed to return without any hindrance. In the name of confidence building, dangerous terrorists of the TTP were released from jails, it added.
A high-level committee was formed which within two weeks would present its recommendations for the implementation of the policy.