Pakistan

Taking stock: Cabinet’s defence body meets tomorrow

Gilani convenes cabinet committee on defence followed by federal cabinet meeting in wake of Karachi attack.

Qamar Zaman May 24, 2011

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani has convened the cabinet committee on defence followed by a meeting of the federal cabinet on Wednesday (May 25) to review the national security situation arising in the wake of the fresh terrorist assault in Karachi and the US operation in Abbottabad.

The defence committee of the cabinet is headed by the prime minister and comprises chiefs of armed forces and key cabinet members.

Meanwhile, the federal cabinet is scheduled to endorse the decisions taken by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet in its meeting held on May 7.

The ECC had allowed the National Trading Agency to procure 400,000 tons of sugar from millers and also decided to allow import of 150,000 tons of urea for the Kharif season this year.

It also waived demurrage charges of Rs 1.2 billion on the stuck-up Afghan transit cargo and allowed ministry of petroleum and natural resources to divert 40 million cubic feet gas meant for power sector to the fertiliser sector under an understanding between stakeholders.

According to the agenda of the cabinet meeting for May 25, a presentation on consumer price index would be given ahead of a discussion on price trend of essential commodities.

Corporatisation and Restructuring of the Industrial Development Bank of Pakistan (IDBP) is also on the agenda and a report on the affairs of IDBP would be presented before the cabinet.

The federal cabinet is also expected to approve various diplomatic matters.

PML-N reiterates demand

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) reiterated its demand for the formation of an independent commission to investigate the Abbottabad incursion at the earliest, and asked that it be entrusted with the inquiry of the terrorist attack on the PNS Mehran in Karachi.

Addressing a press conference here, PML-N’s Siddiqul Farooq said on Monday that the prime minister should set up the commission in line with the unanimous parliamentary resolution in consultation with Opposition Leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan.

The PML-N has sent its nominations for the commission members to the government while Prime Minister Gilani was on a foreign visit. Despite his return, there has apparently been no further development, he said.

The objective of the inquiry, he said, was to highlight weaknesses in the defence system and to expose elements which have defamed the country and its security agencies.

Addressing the media, Farooq called upon the military leadership to stop interfering in political affairs. “Intelligence agencies should search for and eliminate terrorists, instead of hunting politicians,” he added.

He urged the government to expose rogue groups or parties which provide logistical support and shelter terrorists who target Pakistan’s defence system.

Farooq, whose party accuses former president Pervez Musharraf of political victimisation, suggested the military top brass devise tougher selection criteria for cadets so that ‘traitors’ like Pervez Musharraf cannot join the rank and file of the armed forces. “The party does not want the army to face another fiasco like the 1971 war or the Kargil misadventure,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 24^th, 2011.

COMMENTS (10)

Asim+Ali | 12 years ago | Reply Let me guess what you are going to talk about. You will take stock of the situation. You will agree that there was a security lapse. And then you will conclude that we have put in place foolproof security so that such events do not happen again. And that you have broken the back of terrorists. And you will not tolerate drones. And you will protect the sovereignty. Now really, do you need to call a DCC meeting? Take a trip to London. Heard the weather is really good and sales start June 27th

Aamer | 12 years ago | Reply All this body should focus on is the fact that our naval chief came to the base with a convoy that included, a 7-series BMW, a 5-series BMW, and a Land Cruiser that total cost would come to around 40 million. Who gave him the right to purchase such vehicals in times of accute recession? How much did he spend on the defence of strategic assets that cost this country billions of rupees? This country has nourished its armed forces like a spoilt child and fulfilled all of its wishes, but not to see these sorts of incompetence.