PPP calls PTI’s security briefing boycott ‘akin to supporting Talibanisation’

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has expressed disappointment over Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) decision to skip the meeting of the parliamentary committee on national security.

The PTI has once again prioritised politics over national security as staying away from the meeting on national security is “tantamount to supporting Talibanisation”, PPP Secretary General Syed Nayyar Hussain Bukhari said in a statement while expressing the party’s disappointment over PTI’s decision.

He emphasised that national security should always be accorded priority, adding that the PTI had the opportunity to speak with one voice in parliament on the issues of national importance.

Bokhari stressed the need for adopting a common national policy to eradicate the scourge of terrorism from the country, saying that the nation needs to speak with one voice on terrorism.

The PPP secretary general said the PTI should have presented its opinion on the policy against terrorism in the parliamentary committee as the security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa already demands attention.

Meanwhile, PPP Information Secretary Shazia Marri said the party welcomes the national security briefing in parliament. She said PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari emphasised the need for the security briefing as he has always called for unity and consensus for the sake of peace and stability.

She said eliminating terrorism is essential for the development and re-construction of the country. “The fight against terrorism is our fight,” she said adding more than ninety thousand Pakistanis have sacrificed their lives in the war on terrorism. Ms Marri said the PPP salutes the sacrifices of army and law enforcement agencies.