PTI accused of playing into hands of 'anti-state elements'
The ruling party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), came down hard on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Wednesday for skipping the parliamentary committee meeting on national security, accusing the party of playing into the hands of anti-state elements.
Echoing its ruling ally, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) also slammed the Imran Khan-led party for "blackmailing over security matters" solely due to its incarcerated leader's absence from the high-level security moot.
PML-N Information Secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb tore into the former ruling party for bowing out of the high-level security huddle, accusing it of abetting anti-state elements.
The senior provincial minister, whose party has held the reins at the centre since 2022 and is now in its second term, held a crucial press conference to express sorrow over the tragic terrorist attack on the Jaffar Express.
However, the spotlight remained on censuring PTI – not just for skipping the national security moot but also for casting doubt on the performance of security forces.
Since the meeting, the ruling alliance has closed ranks in condemning PTI, accusing it of repeatedly dodging key discussions in a bid to shift the national conversation away from the growing spectre of terrorism.
Denouncing PTI's criticism of the armed forces and its alleged anarchist agenda, Marriyum warned that anyone seeking to spread chaos at this juncture "would not be spared".
However, when asked why PML-N President Nawaz Sharif did not attend the meeting, she cited his health as the reason.
Interestingly, when questioned about the fine imposed on Nawaz Sharif's son, Hussain Nawaz, by the UK's NCA for being declared a tax defaulter, she dismissed it as an attempt to divert attention from skipping the security huddle.
She said that financial matters concerning the Sharif family had already been cleared by agencies in Pakistan and abroad.
Marriyum stressed the urgent need for national unity in the fight against terrorism, stating that terrorism does not target any single law enforcement agency or group but threatens the entire country's existence.
She recalled that after the Army Public School (APS) tragedy, the previous PML-N government had successfully united all political parties to establish a national narrative for lasting peace. In contrast, she accused PTI of sowing divisions on national security matters and failing to demonstrate unity in the war against terrorism.
Marriyum alleged that PTI representatives repeatedly avoided National Security Parliamentary Committee meetings, despite national security being an issue of national concern rather than partisan politics.
'Blackmailing over security issues'
Meanwhile, in a post on the social media platform 'X', Senator Irfan Siddiqui also slammed PTI's decision to boycott the security huddle, saying it aligned perfectly with the party's political approach.
"Only PTI could prioritise meeting a convicted prisoner over formulating a strategy to combat terrorism, which has claimed the lives of 93,000 Pakistanis," Siddiqui said.
He further pointed out that the prisoner in question - Imran Khan - never attended a single national security forum even when he was prime minister.
Meanwhile, PPP Central Punjab General Secretary Hassan Murtaza also vehemently denounced PTI's decision to boycott the meeting over Imran Khan's exclusion, calling it an act of political blackmail against national security.
"PTI's blackmailing on national security issues is a negation of patriotism," Murtaza said.
He condemned the move, saying, "Refusing to attend a crucial security meeting just because a convict is not granted parole is a shameful act."
Murtaza pointed out that Imran, even as prime minister, never attended a single national security meeting. "Now, this national criminal is resorting to blackmail on critical national issues, which is deplorable," he added.
He stressed that Pakistan's security and public welfare must be prioritised above politics.