Pakistan

Parliamentary Committee on National Security refuses to attend GHQ briefing

Senator Raza Rabbani says regulations do not allow the committee to hold meetings outside Parliament House.

Express October 11, 2011

ISLAMABAD: The Parliamentary Committee on National Security has refused to attend a briefing on the security situation and US-Pakistan relations at General Headquarters (GHQ), Express 24/7 reported on Tuesday.

Chairman of the committee, Senator Raza Rabbani said the members had unanimously decided not to attend the briefing.

He said regulations did not allow the committee to hold meetings outside Parliament House.

Chief of Army Staff Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and Inter-Services Intelligence(ISI) chief Lt-Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha were to brief three committees today.

The committees include the Parliamentary Committee on National Security, Senate Standing Committee on Defence and the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs.

COMMENTS (15)

Mirza | 12 years ago | Reply @Saad Kiani: In every civilized country there is an open hearing of all army appointments and postings. Army works for the country as a public servant and not the other way around like in Pakistan. They are paid govt servants like any other department and not the masters. It is the people who are the ultimate power in the country via their elected reps. long live "Friends of Democratic Pakistan" who are keeping us on a path to democracy.

ishtiaer hussain | 12 years ago | Reply

Hold the generals accountable. Elected representatives have the moral authority to make the generals answerable to the nation. The days GHQ called the shots at the expense of Islamabad should be over now. The sooner, the better.

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Saad Kiani | 12 years ago | Reply

well I dont know if yu guys have forgotten wat happened last time army went to the parliament for the in camera briefing session,dr firdos ashiq awan was all over the media after taking the confidentiality oath... but after a very long time the COAS is reporting to PM and paying him the symbolic visits often to brief hime over the national security... so atleast encourage that much for a start and wait for the army to regain its trust on the politicians...im sure there must have been a reason for selecting GHQ as venue other than the disgracing the "graceful" politicians

Shahzad | 12 years ago | Reply Perhaps most of the valued failed to understand that if Army top brass was able to brief the Parliament and APC and during many other occassions; what was difficult for them to brief again at the prescrabed location. The decision of briefing was taken almost a week ago and Mr Raza Rabbani did not has the courage to refuse at that time. Now at the 11th hour they are trying to prove themselves the champions of democracy.

Noman | 12 years ago | Reply @ Ghaznavi Mr. Pundit its right , the committees also include the, " The Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs" and the topic includes, " US-Pakistan relations ", Even otherwise it is an open secret that the GHQ is running Pakistan's foreign policy in addition to its finance policy, internal law and order policy etc etc. The GHQ's and ISI's offer to conduct briefing to the three parliamentary committees at GHQ was well thought out, symbolic and insulting. The ARMY is very concerned about protocols and rules of business when it concerns them.

Mirza | 12 years ago | Reply I am glad to see lot of enlightened comments to support the elected members. In a democratic country each appointment in army, is debated and approved/rejected by the elected reps. Not in Pakistan, which is the root cause of all these problems. These generals should be ordered to appear and questioned before the elected committe. There is a meanigful perception that all politicians are corrupt and should be ignored and not trusted. This mindset needs to change if we want to be a truly independent country.

Pundit | 12 years ago | Reply

@Ghaznavi: "a briefing on the security situation and US-Pakistan relations"

are your specs misplaced?

Still a Pakistani | 12 years ago | Reply The Parliamentary Committee on National Security should brief chiefs of Armd forces and ISI chief on the security situation; US-Pakistan relations and order what to do next... I don 't have any doubt in their abilities in solving the problems, I hope everyone agrees to me.... :-)

Ghaznavi | 12 years ago | Reply @ Pundit It pays to grow some brain. Its the committee on national security and not foreign affairs. Now you will say that Pundit Thomas Edison was the founder of Confucianism.. I always find your comments baseless...

Jadugar | 12 years ago | Reply

Established institution like GHQ should be aware of the protocol, I hope the GHQ realizes and rectifies it's mistake. let's hope that this was just an overlook on the part of the Armed Forces and not on purpose. The armed Forces should know that they are really not above the constitution. They should respect the will of the people.

Wellwisher | 12 years ago | Reply CONGRATS. The Committee seems to have some spine. It bodes well for the country. I wish other civilian authorities to take similar stands when required.

Musa | 12 years ago | Reply Pakistani military should serve the country and its people rather than order elected members of parliament and give dictation to them. They must go to parliament and give briefing. It shouldn't be the other way round. This has to change. They are using 75 percent of taxpayer money and then ordering parliamentarians to pay them a visit? That's ridiculous!

John B | 12 years ago | Reply

Now we are talking.

Hope the gods come down from the high mountains and visit the mortals and brief about the security isssues.

edgarm | 12 years ago | Reply

Strange , in all normal countries the army would need to go to the Executuve . In Pakistan it seems it is the other way around and this is the crux of Pakistans problems.

Pundit | 12 years ago | Reply "The Parliamentary Committee on National Security has refused to attend a briefing on the security situation and US-Pakistan relations at General Headquarters (GHQ), Express 24/7 reported on Tuesday." Isnt is absurd that the Army will brief the Parliament re the country's Foreign Policy?

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