PM, COAS discuss security matters

Official statement leaves media guessing about what was discussed

ISLAMABAD: Army chief General Raheel Sharif on Monday called on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to discuss “matters pertaining to national and regional security”.

A brief press statement issued by the Prime Minister House left the media guessing about what exactly was discussed in the meeting. Sources say progress on an inquiry into the publication of a controversial story by an English-language daily came under discussion.



The government has twice rebutted the story as ‘fabrication’, while the top military commanders called it a ‘planted news’ which breached national security.

According to sources, the prime minister reiterated his government’s commitment to an impartial and transparent inquiry as has already been ordered by him.

Reportedly, the appointment of a new army chief and names of probable candidates with respect to their seniority were also discussed, though there was no official confirmation of such reports. Gen Raheel, who is scheduled to retire on November 29, has already announced that he would not seek an extension in his tenure.



The army chief also reportedly briefed Premier Sharif about the security situation on the country’s eastern frontier and the Line of Control (LoC) where Pakistani troops are befittingly responding to India’s repeated violations of ceasefire.

The army chief and the premier also reviewed progress on the National Action Plan against terrorism as Sharif lauded the role of security forces in bringing peace internally and maintaining foolproof security at the borders, sources said.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 18^th, 2016.