High-Level Meeting on National Security

Web Desk: The civil-military leadership is attending a crucial in-camera session of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS) today (Tuesday) amid escalating terrorist attacks in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

The session, convened by National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq on the advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, is taking place in the lower house. Military leadership is set to brief lawmakers on the prevailing security situation.

Key Attendees and Absentees

The meeting is being attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir, Director General Inter-Services Intelligence (DG ISI) Lieutenant General Asim Malik, chief ministers of all four provinces, and other top officials.

However, notable absentees include Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, National Assembly Opposition Leader Omar Ayub, and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) members, who have opted not to attend the session.

Recent Terror Attacks Highlight Urgency

The high-level huddle follows last week’s deadly attack by the outlawed Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA). Militants had blown up train tracks and held over 440 passengers hostage in a day-long standoff in Bolan district.

The military, after clearing the train and rescuing the hostages, confirmed that 33 attackers had been killed. However, before the operation began, terrorists had already martyred 26 passengers, including 18 security personnel from the Army and Frontier Corps, three officials from Pakistan Railways, and five civilians. Four security personnel also lost their lives during the operation.

Pakistan Ranks Second in Global Terrorism Index

The closed-door session is also being held in light of alarming figures from the Global Terrorism Index 2025 report, which ranks Pakistan as the second-most affected country by terrorism.

Pakistan has moved from fourth to second place, witnessing a 45% surge in terrorism-related deaths. Fatalities rose from 748 in 2023 to 1,081 in 2024, marking one of the steepest increases globally.

The number of terror attacks more than doubled, from 517 in 2023 to 1,099 in 2024, marking the first year that attacks have exceeded 1,000 since the index’s inception. Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which share a border with Afghanistan, accounted for over 96% of terrorist attacks and deaths in Pakistan.

Political Divide Over National Security Meeting

The crucial PCNS session is taking place against the backdrop of intense political polarization. PTI has announced its decision to boycott the meeting, demanding that the government facilitate a meeting between its leaders and PTI founder Imran Khan, who is currently imprisoned at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail.

PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja confirmed that no PTI representative, except for KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, would attend. Gandapur is present in his official capacity as the province’s representative.

Additionally, other political factions, including the Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) led by Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) led by Sardar Akhtar Mengal, and Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) led by Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, have also chosen to skip the session.

Calls for Broader Parliamentary Involvement

TTAP chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai has voiced serious concerns about the country’s political climate, calling for a two-day joint parliamentary session to discuss national security. He criticized the current government, alleging electoral fraud and unconstitutional practices.

He further stressed that national security discussions must include representatives from all political parties, including Imran Khan, without whom such dialogues would lack legitimacy. He also emphasized that Jamaat-e-Islami representatives should be part of national security meetings.

Sunni Ittehad Council’s Position

Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) chief Sahibzada Hamid Raza stated that his party had initially pushed for an in-camera session. While names of representatives were submitted with conditions, the SIC later decided to withdraw from the session.

Raza asserted that meaningful progress on national security cannot be achieved without taking PTI founder Imran Khan into confidence, as public support is crucial. He also emphasized the importance of prioritizing negotiations over military operations.

Heightened Security Measures

Given the sensitive nature of the meeting, extraordinary security arrangements have been made around Parliament House, including the deployment of snipers on the rooftop to ensure the safety of attendees.