- Opposition leaders were asked to prioritize the national interest.
- The law minister asked Prime Minister Shehbaz to give a briefing behind closed doors.
- Achakzai suggests extending the briefing to the entire parliament.
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has invited parliamentary leaders and political party leaders for a briefing on the regional situation, Prime Minister’s Advisor Rana Sanaullah said on Tuesday.
Addressing the media in Islamabad, he said the meeting would be held tomorrow at 11:30 am to discuss internal and regional security in the context of Pakistan’s response to the provocative actions of the Afghan Taliban regime along the border and the conflict in the Middle East.
“We have come to invite opposition leaders and party leaders on the instructions of the prime minister,” Sanaullah said.
He said opposition leaders were asked to offer views beyond partisan considerations.
“Opposition leaders will consult their colleagues before making a decision,” Sanaullah said, stressing that no party should impose demands on the meeting.
However, the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, Mahmood Khan Achakzai, suggested that the briefing should be extended to the entire parliament rather than individual members.
“Given the dangerous regional developments, Parliament must be kept fully informed. We will provide our response by tomorrow morning after consulting our colleagues,” he said.
The scheduling of the briefing comes as tensions rise in the Middle East following joint U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran.
The two countries launched an attack on Tehran on February 28, with U.S. officials saying the military campaign was aimed at destroying Iran’s navy and its missile capabilities.
Apart from the conflict in the Middle East, Pakistan is also fighting cross-border terrorism from Afghanistan.
Pakistani armed forces continue their ground and air operations under Operation Ghazab lil-Haq, targeting Afghan Taliban elements and Fitna al-Khawarij militants involved in the cross-border incursion.
Security forces launched the operation on February 27 after Afghan Taliban fighters resorted to unprovoked firing along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
Since then, security forces have killed 464 Afghan Taliban fighters, while more than 660 have been injured.
Pakistani forces destroyed 188 Afghan Taliban checkpoints, while capturing 31 posts.
Meanwhile, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said the prime minister would give a closed-door briefing to the country’s political leaders during the meeting.
He added that Sanaullah had been instructed to invite leaders of political parties.
