Army Chief briefs Senators on national security

ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Tuesday   briefed a parliamentary committee on issues related to national security, foreign visits he has undertaken during the past few months and Saudi-led military alliance of Muslim countries.

Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani  chaired the in-camera meeting  of Senate's Committee of the Whole during which the army chief   also answered  questions from the parliamentarians  .

Accompanied by Director General Military Operations, Director General ISI and Director ISPR, the army chief arrived in the parliament via helicopter .

"All the Senators praised Pakistan Army's role and acknowledged its sacrifices, " Geo TV quoted the ISPR chief Major General Asif Ghafoor as saying after the meeting that lasted for four hours.

Later, DG ISPR Major-General Asif Ghafoor told journalists that the Director-General Military Operations briefed the Committee of the Whole for one hour. This was followed by question-answer session and Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa also responded to queries by the law-makers.

He said there was a consensus that Pakistan was a strong country and we will have to move forward together.

He said the briefing covered geo-strategic security situation, war on terror and future strategy.

The Director-General ISPR said interaction between parliamentarians and the army leadership was held in a cordial atmosphere and described it as a good beginning.

He said the proposal for such an interaction was given by members of the Standing Committee on Defence of the two houses during their visit to GHQ in September this year. Chairman Senate Mian Raza Rabbani had also extended an invitation to the Army Chief to brief the house.

The ISPR chief said he would hold a detailed press conference within three to four days.  

PPP leader Farooq H. Naik said army chief gave a detailed briefing which happened for the first time.

Senate Deputy Chairman Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haidri received the army chief at the parliament house.

 Leader of the House Raja Muhammad Zafarul Haq, Leader of the Opposition Aitzaz Ahsan, members of the Senate and Minister for Defence Khurram Dastagir Khan   attended the meeting.