The ruling party is all set to hold a meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security on December 6 (today) to discuss the national security policy and key internal and external issues being faced by the country amid opposition parties’ boycott of the briefing.
Soon after the government summoned the meeting on national security, the joint opposition parties announced to boycott it over Prime Minister Imran Khan’s constant absence while accusing the government of riding roughshod over the constitution and making parliament a “rubber stamp”.
Subsequently, the government asked the opposition parties to review their decision and attend the briefing by the National Security Adviser, Moeed Yusuf.
Despite their refusal, the government while once again extending the invitation to the key opposition leaders, including the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, decided to convene the 4th in-camera meeting on national security on Monday at noon.
Read: PDM to decide fate of anti-govt campaign today
On Sunday, when contacted, the spokespersons of the opposition parties reiterated that they would stand by the decision that they earlier made and not attend the briefing.
Among other reasons, the opposition parties said that they would boycott the briefing as the government had bulldozed 33 bills during the joint session of parliament.
In a statement, the joint opposition in parliament, while calling the prime minister “selected” had said that Imran Khan did not even attend the meetings on important national issues, including the one called to discuss the situation in the Indian Illegally-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
Moreover, they had accused the prime minister of being “ignorant” of the spirit of democratic consultations and importance of difference of opinion, adding that he did not have the capability of using the collective wisdom of the nation for the betterment of the country and the people.
They said that the in-camera briefing would merely provide the government another chance to put up a show that would have nothing to do with the critical issues, facing the country and the people today, or providing solution to those problems.
While calling NSA Moeed Yusuf merely a “showpiece”, the opposition parties had said that neither the NSA had the relevant information nor the authority to take any decision, adding that his briefing would not have anything to do with the real factors and future blueprints.
Read More: Sports can lead younger generation on right path: Fawad
As per the revised notice issued in continuation of November 30 notification, National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser had summoned the national security meeting to discuss the security situation in the country and the region.
In the previous NSC meetings, the top military leadership, including Chief of the Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa and Director General of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt Gen Faiz Hameed, had briefed the lawmakers of the Senate and the National Assembly on matters pertaining to national security, foreign affairs, as well as internal and external challenges faced by the county.
The meeting will start at 12noon today at committee room No2 today.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ