LAHORE: The opposition Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s refusal to attend the National Security Committee’s meeting has been criticised by the ruling coalition – PML-N and PPP.

There should be no political point scoring in the issue of national security, said Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan, who represents the PML-N.

“The PTI should have attended the national security meeting. I have witnessed two occasions when the issue of national security came up and the PTI did not attend it,” he regretted.

He recalled that when even Imran Khan was the prime minister, the PTI founder did not attend the NSC meeting.

“PTI should think for the country above its own interests. When we were in the opposition, whenever a national security meeting was summoned, Shehbaz Sharif participated as the opposition leader.”

Former senior provincial minister and PPP Central Punjab General Secretary Syed Hassan Murtaza has termed the absence of PTI from the National Security Committee meeting regrettable and said that the opposition party sabotaged the unanimous stand of the parliament against terrorism.

“This act of theirs is tantamount to sympathy with the Taliban, Khwarij and terrorists.”

Mr Murtaza said that it has been proven that this group’s affiliation is not with the country but with an individual and the nation has seen the ugly face of those who prioritise political opposition over national interest.

Published in Dawn, March 19th, 2025