In order to fight terrorism with the “full force of the state,” participants in a high-level meeting on Tuesday emphasized the necessity of agreement and a shared political commitment.
Citing the absence of imprisoned former premier Imran Khan, the opposition alliance Tehreek Tahaffuz-i-Ayeen Pakistan (TTAP) chose not to attend the conference.
The Parliamentary Committee on National Security held its in-camera meeting in the midst of recent spikes in attacks on law enforcement and security forces, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
Balochistan has already had several occurrences this month, including the unusual Jaffar Express kidnapping that claimed at least 31 lives, a suicide bombing in Noshki District that claimed five lives, and numerous attacks on KP police.
This afternoon, the nation’s senior military and civilian authorities gathered at Parliament House to talk about ways to combat terrorism.
According to a statement released following the meeting, the committee members praised the bravery and professionalism of security forces and law enforcement agencies in carrying out their counterterrorism operations, strongly denounced the recent terror acts, and reaffirmed the nation’s unwavering resolve to eradicate terrorism in all of its forms and manifestations. They also expressed solidarity with the families of the victims.
“The committee emphasized strategic and unified political commitment to confront this menace with the full might of the state, stressing the need for a national consensus to repel terrorism,” the statement says.
The members of the committee emphasized that in order to destroy terrorist networks, combat logistical assistance, and break the link between terrorism and criminal activity, the National Action Plan and Operation Azm-i-Istehkam must be implemented immediately.
They also voiced alarm about the growing number of terrorist organizations using social media sites to recruit followers, disseminate propaganda, and organize their networks. The committee members advocated for the creation of a system to combat terrorist activity and suggested that steps be taken to limit such social media use.
Pakistan stands shoulder to shoulder with the armed forces, police, Frontier Constabulary, and intelligence agencies in the fight against terrorism, the committee said, reaffirming its unwavering support for Pakistan’s law enforcement agencies and armed forces. It also acknowledged their sacrifices and dedication to national defense.
“The committee reaffirmed that no organization, person, or group that collaborates with adversaries will be permitted to jeopardize Pakistan’s peace and stability,” the statement continued.
It ended by stating that the committee members expressed regret for some opposition members’ lack of engagement and reaffirmed that the consultation process would continue in this area.
The committee members unanimously approved the declaration.
Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir also spoke to the committee, according to a statement released by state television PTV News.
“No movement, no agenda, and no individual is more important than national security. According to the army chief, “all elements of national power will have to work in harmony for sustainable development.”
He claimed that the nation’s survival and the survival of its future generations depended on the ongoing war against terrorism.
According to the army leader, the country needs to be made a “hard state” and its administration improved.
“How long will we keep giving up innumerable lives in a soft state fashion? He was cited as telling the committee, “How long will we continue to fill governance gaps with the blood of Pakistan Armed Forces and martyrs?”
The head of the army asked religious experts to reveal the terrorists’ misguided understanding of Islam. He went on to remark that there was “nothing more important to us than the security of the country” and that everyone owed their ongoing existence to the survival of the nation.
We must embrace a common narrative that goes beyond our individual and political interests in order to defend Pakistan. He stated, “Today sends a message to those who believe they can use these terrorists to weaken Pakistan that we will come together and defeat not only them but all of their facilitators.”
The huddle was attended by the heads of all legislative parties or their representatives, members of the federal cabinet, the chief ministers of the four provinces, and members of the National Assembly’s standing committees on foreign affairs and defense.
Despite allegations of several threats in the federal capital, the in-camera moot was conducted under stringent security measures. Even for in-camera sessions, media personnel were prohibited from Parliament House for a single day as part of these security measures, which was uncommon.
Additionally, during the session, cell phones were not allowed inside the National Assembly Hall.
The PPP’s official Instagram account posted a video of Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, the party’s chairman, arriving into Parliament House for the meeting.
Opposition does not participate in proceedings
The PTI had stated yesterday that it would go to the security moot, but it wanted to speak with its imprisoned founder, Imran, first. “The PTI founder should also be invited to such a meeting and without him, no meeting will have significance,” TTAP president Mahmood Khan Achakzai said Monday, echoing its demand.
Achakzai, who is also the leader of the Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), stated at the opposition’s joint press conference at KP House in Islamabad that all political parties should be invited to any national security meeting.
PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, Senator Raja Nasir Abbas, the leader of Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen (MWM), and Sahibzada Hamid Raza, an MNA for the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), were standing at Achakzai’s side.
“A joint session of parliament is necessary due to Pakistan’s dire circumstances.” But at the combined session, everyone should be able to speak,” Achakzai said.
The PkMAP president further asserted that PTI leaders and other MNAs are not permitted to meet with the former premier because of the superintendent of Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail, where Imran is detained.
The PkMAP leader said, “If no one is permitted to meet him, it should be declared that the PTI founder is a dangerous man who is not permitted to meet [anyone].”
He continued, seemingly alluding to government officials drawing attention to divisions among the opposition, saying, “If we attend this meeting, they will later say that such and such people were in disagreement.”
Salman Akram Raja, KP CM, will attend the moot in Gandapur.
While declaring that “no representative from us will attend the meeting,” Raja of the PTI stated that Ali Amin Gandapur, the chief minister of KP, will be present at the high-level event.
Raja reiterated the party’s position, saying, “We demand that the PTI founder be released on parole.”
The PTI has declined to attend the meeting, he said, adding that the decision was decided yesterday during a meeting of the party’s political committee.
“At this point, we oppose any [military] operation. We do not support this situation, as [the people of Balochistan] have endured these conditions for 77 years,” Raja stated.
He went on, “We must end fascism and fix this country.”
The PTI had initially agreed to participate in the security moot, and spokesperson Sheikh Waqqas Akram had stated that his party will contribute to the discussion. Omar Ayub, the leader of the NA opposition, had also described the consultation as essential to successfully coordinating PTI’s stance on issues of national importance.
The ruling parties criticize the PTI’s choice.
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif responded to the PTI’s decision to skip the security meeting by accusing the party of “doing politics of its interest.”
Asif stated on X that the PTI had demonstrated today that Imran Khan was their top priority and that they did not care about the peace and well-being of the nation.
Sharjeel Inam Memon, the Sindh Information Minister, blasted the PTI for skipping the event of national significance.
Memon told Karachi’s media, “The PTI should have behaved like a responsible party and a good Pakistani.”
He went on to say that there were rumors that India was helping to carry out the latest strikes in Balochistan. “India seeks to undermine Pakistan.”
In an effort to undermine the nation, Memon asserted: “Terrorist organizations and occasionally political parties that have also received funds [from India] have been employed.
The PPP representative added that the security briefing was probably about KP as well, where the PTI is in power and “has a responsibility,” because “those same parties are not ready to stand with their country despite these attacks.”
Memon referred to the PTI’s decision to abstain from the moot by saying, “I strongly condemn this.”
He claimed that the PPP had been the greatest casualty of extremism and terrorism, and that the “entire nation was standing united against terrorism.”
The minister from Sindh went on to say that although his party has “always been the target of terrorism […], they (terrorists) never attacked any major party.”
Memon claimed that “parties with the Taliban’s support” were not present at today’s meeting, seemingly criticizing Imran for “favoring talks with the Taliban.”
He highlighted that the 2014 attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar occurred during the PTI’s rule in KP when asked about the PTI’s criticism of counterterrorism measures.
“Can its chief minister (Gandapur) visit his constituency even today, given the circumstances in KP? After 6 p.m., are police allowed to patrol the streets? Memon urged all political parties and institutions to come together “under one umbrella,” claiming that the PTI’s government in KP is responsible for all of these shortcomings.
In response to PTI’s allegations of state bias, Prime Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan, advisor on political and public affairs, stated that the party was “using its resources against the state through propaganda and social media campaigns.”
Additionally, he stated that the PML-N, led by Nawaz Sharif, actively contributed to the country’s terrorism eradication.
“The then PML-N government held an All Parties Conference (APC) and created the National Action Plan (NAP) to combat terrorism following the Army Public School (APS) attack in 2014,” he said on a private TV channel.
According to him, military operations like Operation Zarb-e-Azb and Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad, which targeted militant hideouts and destroyed terrorist networks nationwide, greatly decreased terrorism.
