The opposition parties and the incumbent government have locked horns once again. But this time on an issue of national interest. The past week, National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser summoned an in-camera meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS) to be held on December 6. National Security Adviser (NSA) Dr. Moeed Yusuf is said to give a ‘presentation’ on the government’s national security policy to all the 29 members of the committee invited to the briefing. These members included but were not limited to Leader of the Opposition in the NA and PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif and PPP chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. However, the joint opposition on Thursday announced to boycott the PCNS meeting. The statement released by them states that the decision was made after “mutual consultation due to the government’s attitude of bulldozing important draft bills and its persistent authoritarian approach on important constitutional, legal, national and security issues”.
The united opposition that compromises of around nine political parties are right in their aspect to criticize the ruling PTI for its lack of consultation with the opposition parties. In the past, Prime Minister Imran Khan and his ministers have shown little to no interest in engaging with them, despite the fact that it is indeed a democratic norm to do so. Let us not forget that the Election Commission of Pakistan is still working with two less members in its team because the premier has outright refused to meet the leader of the opposition in the NA. He has gone as far as to allude that even shaking hands with Shehbaz would be akin to accepting corruption in the country. It is also embarrassing to report that the Leader of the House, PM Imran, has only attended 21 of the NA’s 198 sittings (a mere 10.6%) between August 13, 2018 and February 4, 2021. Perhaps the premier must be reminded of the promise he made right after taking oath: to empower the parliament and attend the NA sittings at least twice a month to answer lawmakers’ questions.
It is then futile for Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry to ask the united opposition to “review their decision and show a responsible attitude” for the meeting on national security – especially when their participation isn’t sought on other crucial matters, such as, the ongoing talks with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the agreement reached with the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP). It is only advisable for the ruling party to seek the opposition’s active participation than summon it.