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ISLAMABAD: A meeting presided over by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif here on Friday discussed the overall security and economic situation of the country.
An official statement released after the meeting said: “The prime minister chaired a meeting at PM House which focused on the overall security and economic situation of the country.”
To the surprise of many, neither was anyone from the General Headquarters (GHQ) nor National Security Adviser retired Lt Gen Nasir Janjua invited to the meeting which was called to discuss the security situation.
Prime minister and only his civilian aides attend the meeting convened to review the security situation
According to a senior aide to the prime minister, the meeting was purely meant for discussion among top leaders of the PML-N on prevailing issues. Therefore, it was restricted to the civilian leadership.
H said the list of participants at such meetings was always approved by the prime minister himself.
In reply to a question about Mr Janjua, the aide said the national security adviser had been in regular contact with the prime minister and his absence in the meeting shouldn’t be an issue.
However, according to analysts, absence of the representatives of national security institutions at a meeting which was called to discuss the security and economic situations naturally raised questions.
Defence analyst Imtiaz Gul was of the view that absence of the representatives of national security institutions at a meeting meant to discuss national security created doubts in the minds.
On the question that had the meeting discussed Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif’s announcement that he was not going to seek an extension in service, a well-connected source in the PML-N said that the topic was obviously on the agenda.
However, he added, discussion on this topic remained restricted among senior and trusted members of the federal cabinet.
Attempts were made to reach Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid for his comments on the meeting, but to no avail.
Other participants of the meeting such as Sartaj Aziz, Tariq Fatemi, Dr Asif Kirmani, Irfan Siddiqui and Senator Mushahidullah Khan were also not available.
Others who attended the meeting were Khawaja Mohammad Asif, Ishaq Dar, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Ahsan Iqbal and Khawaja Saad Rafique.
The prime minister was briefed on the terrorist attack on the Bacha Khan University, Charsadda.
Mr Sharif reaffirmed his government’s categorical resolve to continue the war on terror until the last terrorist was eliminated. “Wiping out terrorism from the motherland is the collective resolve of the state of Pakistan, its government and people of the land,” the prime minister was quoted in the statement as saying.
He said the Zarb-i-Azb military operation had broken the backbone of terrorists and now they had resorted to targeting soft targets out of sheer frustration.
The Karachi operation also came under discussion and it was agreed that the operation would continue till its logical conclusion.
The prime minister informed the participants about his recent visit to Saudi Arabia, Iran and Davos (Switzerland). He said because of the government’s efforts Pakistan’s image had improved abroad.
According to a source, the recent trade of barbs between Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan and Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah did not come under discussion.
However, he added, the prime minister advised members of his cabinet against confrontation with the PPP government in Sindh.
About the privatisation plan of Pakistan International Airlines, Nawaz Sharif called for taking the opposition on board.
According to the source, the prime minister expressed concern over the Punjab government’s decision of closing schools in the province, saying that such a decision should have been taken in consultation with the federal government.
Published in Dawn, January 30th, 2016
