ISLAMABAD: An in-camera session of the National Assembly (NA) is underway in Islamabad, where the military leadership is briefing lawmakers on the ongoing security situation in the country. National Assembly Speaker Raja Parvez Ashraf chaired the session, which was attended by federal ministers, advisers, Members of the National Assembly (MNAs), and chief ministers.
The meeting was convened to discuss the country’s security situation and take stock of the measures taken to ensure the safety and security of the citizens.
Secretaries of foreign affairs, interior, finance, defence, and information & broadcasting have also been invited to attend the meeting. The four provincial chief secretaries, chief ministers, and Inspectors General of Police (IGPs) were also issued special invitations by the NA Secretariat.
Military leadership to brief the National Assembly’s in-camera session
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir and Director General Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmed Anjum gave the members a detailed overview of the current security situation of the National Assembly.
The lawmakers were allowed to raise their questions and concerns regarding the security situation at the special session, according to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The NA session comes days after the National Security Committee (NSC) huddle approved a multi-pronged comprehensive operation with the support of the federal government and the entire nation to eradicate the menace of terrorism from Pakistan with a new resolve, determination and valour.
Several federal ministers, the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), services chiefs, and high-ranking department officers attended the meeting.
At the start of the session, the participants paid rich tribute to those who were martyred in the Gayari sector tragedy on April 7, 2012. The NSC forum was told that the government was taking measures to relieve the people and that comprehensive national security was of central importance.
The meeting acknowledged the efforts and sacrifices of the security forces in ensuring permanent peace for the nation.
The committee declared that the recent wave of terrorism resulted from the absence of a comprehensive policy against Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the soft corner for militants.
It was declared a terrorist organization, but against public expectations and wishes, under the earlier policy, terrorists were allowed to return without any hindrance.
Dangerous TTP terrorists were released from jails. A high-level committee was formed to present its recommendations for implementing the counter-terrorism policy and draw its parameters within two weeks.
The in-camera session was held to provide an opportunity for lawmakers to have an in-depth understanding of the current security situation in the country and to provide a platform to discuss measures to ensure the safety and security of the countrymen.
The briefing by the military leadership is expected to provide lawmakers with valuable insights into the measures being taken to maintain law and order in the country. The in-camera session is seen as an important step in ensuring comprehensive national security for the country.
