ISLAMABAD - Two important federal ministers, who are directly concerned with the National Security Policy, were absent at the launch of the first ever National Security Policy of Pakistan by Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Minister for Interior Sheikh Rashid and Defence Minister Pervez Khattak were absent from the ceremony which was attended by Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhary, Minister for Science and Technology Shibli Faraz, NSA Dr Moeed Yousaf and others. National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser was also present on the occasion.
Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Nadeem Raza, Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Air Chief Zaheer Ahmed Babar, Naval Chief Admiral M Amjad Khan Niazi, DG ISI Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum were also present.
When contacted an official of the Interior Ministry said Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid was busy in holding a meeting in connection with the apex committee meeting on Afghanistan.
However, there was no information about Defence Minister Pervez Khattak as to why he was absent from a highly important event of national security.
Just a day before, Pervez Khattak was in the spotlight for expressing dissenting views in the presence of Prime Minister Imran Khan at a PTI parliamentary party meeting on issues related to his province KP.