ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has summoned a national security conference for Saturday which contrary to normal practice will also see attendance from parliamentary leaders of various political parties.
Sources say the conference had not been planned and was summoned on an emergency basis to discuss the political scenario prevailing in the country, particularly the impending marches of PTI and PAT and their impact on Operation Zarb e Azb.
The conference is also scheduled to discuss matters relating to the country’s internal security and the participants are expected to be briefed on the anti-terror war as well as the military operation under way in North Waziristan.
Sources said that leaders of all the political parties having representation in the Parliament have been extended invitation by telephone by Federal Ministers.
The conference will be held at the Prime Minister House and also attended by all four chief ministers, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Raheel Sharif as well as Director General Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt-Gen Zaheerul Islam.
Federal Ministers for Interior, Finance, Defence and Advisor on National Security and Foreign Affairs would also attend the meeting.
The Army Chief and the DG ISI would brief the participants about the overall security situation as well as the progress in the on going Zarb e Azb operation.
The conference, comes at a time when the August 14 million march of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) on Islamabad is only a few days away and different political parties are busy to defuse the situation so as there is no harm to the democracy in the country.
The MQM delegation during meeting with the prime minister on Thursday suggested the convening of All Parties Conference.
The Prime Minister after consultation with his Advisors decided to convene the National Security Conference so that the leadership is briefed about the dangers facing the country and emphasise that political instability in the country would have negative impact on operation against terrorism and national security. DNA
