MPs body seeks briefing on memo, other issue

ISLAMABAD - Parliamentary Committee on National Security in a meeting held here on Friday asked the Secretaries Foreign Affairs and Defence to brief the committee on memo controversy, Air Chief's statement in Dubai and the overall security situation in Balochistan. Talking to media after the meeting, the committee's chairman Senator Mian Raza Rabbani said that the next meeting of the committee would be held soon after 10th of Muharram and Secretary Foreign Affairs and Secretary Defence would give briefing to them on the above mentioned issues. To a question, he said that the committee would draw its future course on these issues after getting briefing from the concerned authorities. He said that the committee had taken a serious notice of the Air Chief's statement about air attacks in Tribal Areas and a clarification would be sought from the Defence Secretary at the next meeting. He said that Mir Israrullah Zehri, Professor Khursheed Ahmad and Abdul Rahim Mandokhel drew the attention of the committee towards security situation in Balochistan and it was decided to convene a special meeting on Balochistan with one point agenda. He said concerned provincial government officials and representatives of the security forces would be asked to brief on the Balochistan security matters. Replying to a question, Raza Rabbani said in his opinion there has been significant progress on the Memo issue. The Ambassador came to Pakistan and after resignation offered himself for investigation. Asked what would be the course of action of the committee if the memo issue was taken up by the Supreme Court, Mian Raza Rabbani said the committee would continue its work. He said the committee did not want this sensitive matter a disputed one and requested all the political leaders not to score points on this sensitive national matter.

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