Parliamentary Committee on National Security endorses Cabinet, DCC decisions: Firdous

The Parliamentary Committee chaired by Senator Raza Rabbani and attended by its members and Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani along with his team.

Briefing mediamen outside the Parliament House about the three hour long in camera meeting of the Parliamentary Committee, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said the committee discussed the situation arising from the violation of Pakistan's sovereignty. It also endorsed all the decisions of the Defence Committee of the Cabinet including cutting of NATO supply line, she added.

The Minister said the Prime Minister briefed the committee about the measures taken by the government after the Mohmand agency incident and asked it to come up with recommendations to redefine the terms of engagement and cooperation with US and NATO.

The committee recommendations will be put before the joint sitting of the parliament, the minister said.

Dr Firdous said the committee also discussed steps for implementation of parliament resolutions on national security passed previously.

The committee meeting was attended by Senator Dr Babar Awan PPP, Senator Ishaq Dar PML-N, Senator Mehtab Abbasi PML-N, Senator Waseem Sajjad PML-Q, Syed Haider Abbas Rizvi MQM, Maulana Fazlur Rehman JUI-F, Prof Khurshid Jamaat-e-Islami, Munir Khan Orakzai FATA, Aftab Sherpao PPP-S, Abdul Rahim Mandokhel and Senator Afrasyab Khattak ANP while Asfandyar Wali Khan ANP, Israrullah Zahri and Shahid Khan Bugti JWP could not attend.

In his opening remarks, the Prime Minister put before the members all the facts related to the incident and told about the contacts with leaders of other countries.

The Prime Minister told that foreign leaders tried to persuade him about Pakistan's participation in the Bonn conference, Dr Firdous said the foreign countries have their own interests and the government has to protect the national honour and dignity.

Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar informed the meeting about the situation at the diplomatic front.

Director General Military Operations (DGMO) also briefed in detail the committee and answered questions of the members.

Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh will meet the committee later to inform them about the economic impact of the government decision while redefining the foreign policy.

All members of the committee expressed their viewpoint, reposed confidence in the Prime Minister, who said he wants to call the joint sitting of the parliament soon after getting recommendations of the committee.

The Minister said the meeting offered Fateha for the martyrs of November 26, paid them tribute for their sacrifices and expressed condolences with their families.

The members reassured of their commitment and called for unity to fight the case of Pakistan and national interest by putting aside any political and ideological divides.

The members appreciated gesture of the Prime Minister for taking them into confidence soon after the Mohmand Agency incident and asking for their guidance, she said adding after the NATO attack, the Prime Minister referred the matter to the committee for deliberations.

She said the members noted that the Prime Minister took the international pressure with courage and fortitude and the government represented aspirations and feelings of Pakistanis.

The members lauded role of security forces and law enforcement agencies to defend territorial integrity and sovereignty of Pakistan.

Dr Firdous said for the meeting, the committee had a single point agenda and no other issue including memo case was taken up.

The Minister told that DGMO will brief the cabinet about the facts related to the NATO attack and the prevailing security environment, in a special meeting after Muharram 10.

To a question about army's strategy to thwart any attack on Pakistani soil in future, she said it is decided to face any aggression and not to adopt wait and see policy.

The government will support the army's decisions on strategic and operational levels to protect territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country, she added.

The Minister said the government will not give importance to statements coming from NATO countries in their own interest.

To a question, the Minister said it was a clear and straightway decision of the committee that Pakistan will not be represented by its foreign minister or ambassador at the Bonn Conference.

She said it is up to Chairman Parliamentary Committee on National Security to convene the next meeting.