ISLAMABAD (PEN) : The civil-military leadership gathered today for a high-level, in-camera session of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS) to address Pakistan’s escalating security situation. The meeting comes amid a surge in terrorist attacks in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), and growing concerns over the country’s security challenges.
Meeting Details and Key Attendees
The closed-door session was convened by National Assembly (NA) Speaker Ayaz Sadiq on the advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. It is being held in the National Assembly and is set to feature a comprehensive security briefing by the military leadership.
Key participants include Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir, Director-General of the Inter-Services Intelligence (DG ISI) Lieutenant General Asim Malik, the Chief Ministers of all four provinces, and other senior officials.
Despite the importance of the meeting, notable figures such as Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, NA Opposition Leader Omar Ayub, and members of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have opted not to attend.
Rising Security Threats
The session comes in the wake of a violent attack by the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) militants, who targeted train tracks and held over 440 passengers hostage in a day-long standoff in Bolan district. The attack left 26 passengers and four security personnel dead, while the military later claimed to have killed 33 attackers.
This meeting also follows a recent report from the Global Terrorism Index, which ranked Pakistan as the second-most affected country by terrorism, marking a significant rise in attacks. According to the report, terrorist-related deaths increased by 45% from 748 in 2023 to 1,081 in 2024. The majority of these attacks occurred in Balochistan and KP, regions already heavily impacted by ongoing violence and insecurity.
Political Divide on National Security
While the session was deemed crucial for addressing Pakistan’s growing security concerns, political divisions within the country have influenced the attendance. The PTI, led by Imran Khan, has chosen to skip the meeting, citing their demand for a meeting between their leadership and Khan, who is currently imprisoned in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail. PTI Secretary-General Salman Akram Raja confirmed that only Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur would attend as the province’s representative.
The PTI’s absence follows the decision of other political parties, including the opposition alliance Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) and the Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M), not to attend the session. These parties have expressed concerns over the legitimacy of the current government, with TTAP’s leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai calling for a joint session of Parliament, including all political stakeholders, to discuss national security in a more inclusive manner.
Demands for Inclusivity and Accountability
Achakzai and other political figures have criticized the restrictions placed on meetings with Imran Khan and called for greater political representation in national security discussions. Achakzai, in particular, emphasized that any meaningful security conversation should involve all political parties, including those led by Imran Khan.
Meanwhile, Sahibzada Hamid Raza of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) confirmed that his party had initially called for an in-camera session, but later decided against attending after certain conditions were not met. Raza also echoed the view that Pakistan’s security situation cannot be addressed effectively without the involvement of all major political leaders, particularly Imran Khan, whose political influence remains significant among the public.
Outlook
The in-camera session is expected to provide crucial insights into Pakistan’s national security situation, with military leadership offering briefings on the challenges posed by rising terrorism and insurgency. However, the ongoing political rift and selective participation in the meeting could hinder the formation of a unified approach to tackling these security challenges.
As the session unfolds, all eyes will be on the government’s ability to bridge political divides and foster a cooperative effort to address Pakistan’s increasingly volatile security landscape. With the rise in terrorist activity, particularly in Balochistan and KP, the need for a comprehensive and coordinated national security strategy has never been more urgent.
