LAHORE:
The ruling party, the Pakistan-Nawaz Muslim League (PML-N), fell strongly on Pakistan Tehreek-E-Insaf (PTI) on Wednesday for skipping the meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security, accusing the party of playing at the hands of the anti-state elements.
Echoing his ruling ally, the Popular Party of Pakistan (PPP) also criticized the party led by Imran Khan for “blackmailing on security matters” only due to the absence of its imprisoned leader of the high -level security discussion.
The PML-N Information Secretary, Marriyum Aurengzeb, became the former ruling party for withdrawing from the high-level security group, accusing him of inciting the anti-state elements.
The Senior Provincial Minister, whose party has held the reins in the center since 2022 and is now in his second term, held a crucial press conference to express sadness about the tragic terrorist attack against Jaffar Express.
However, the care center remained in censoring the PTI, not only to omit the debate on national security, but also to put doubts about the performance of security forces.
From the meeting, the ruling alliance has closed ranges to condemn PTI, accusing it of repeatedly dodging the key discussions in an attempt to remove the national conversation of the growing spectrum of terrorism.
Denouncing PTI’s criticisms of the Armed Forces and their alleged anarchist agenda, Marriyum warned that anyone looking to spread chaos in this situation “would not be saved.”
However, when asked why the president of PML-N, Nawaz Sharif, did not attend the meeting, she cited her health as the reason.
Interestingly, when asked about the fine imposed on Nawaz Sharif’s son, Hussain Nawaz, for the United Kingdom’s NCA for being declared a resident of taxes, she dismissed him as an attempt to divert the attention of jumping the security group.
She said that financial matters about the Sharif family had already been authorized by agencies in Pakistan and abroad.
Marriyum emphasized the urgent need of national unity in the fight against terrorism, stating that terrorism does not address any agency or group of application of the law, but threatens the existence of the entire country.
He recalled that after the tragedy of the Army of the Public School (APS), the previous Government of PML-N had successfully united all political parties to establish a national narrative for lasting peace. In contrast, he accused PTI to sow divisions on national security matters and not demonstrate unity in the war on terrorism.
Marriyum claimed that PTI representatives repeatedly avoided the meetings of the National Security Parliamentary Committee, despite the fact that national security was a issue of national concern instead of partisan policy.
‘Blackmail on security problems’
Meanwhile, in a publication on the social networks ‘X’ platform, Senator Irfan Siddiqui also criticized PTI’s decision to boycott the security group, saying that he aligned himself perfectly with the political approach of the party.
“Only PTI could prioritize the meeting of a prisoner convicted of formulating a strategy to combat terrorism, which has claimed the life of 93,000 Pakistani,” said Siddiqui.
In addition, he pointed out that the prisoner in question, Imran Khan, never attended a single National Security Forum even when he was prime minister.
Meanwhile, the Secretary General of PPP Central Punjab, Hassan Murtaza, also vehemently denounced PTI’s decision to boycott the meeting on the exclusion of Imran Khan, qualifying him as an act of political blackmail against national security.
“PTI’s blackmail on national security issues is a denial of patriotism,” Mutaza said.
He condemned the measure, saying: “Refusing to attend a crucial security meeting just because a convict is not granted probation is a shameful act.”
Murtaza said that Imran, even as a prime minister, never attended a single national security meeting. “Now, this national criminal is resorting to blackmail on critical national issues, which is deplorable,” he added.
He stressed that Pakistan’s security and public welfare should be prioritized above politics.
