ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: A meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) held in Islamabad on Monday to deliberate upon various issues at length including the former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s controversial statement related to non-state actors and 2008 Mumbai attacks.
The meeting was Chaired by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi while the Federal Ministers, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa, the Director General Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asif Ghafoor, the Director General Military Operation, and higher civil and military officials participated.
The NSC meeting was held in the wake of an interview given by Nawaz Sharif to Cyril Almeida published in Dawn on May 12, 2018 with the title ‘For Nawaz, it’s not over till it’s over’, alleged that non-state actors still existed in Pakistan, and also remarked that Mumbai attackers hailed from Pakistan. He also raised questions about the Case related to Mumbai attacks.
His remarks gave an opportunity to Indian media as they began lambasting Pakistan over sheltering terrorists and claimed that Nawaz Sharif had endorsed Indian stance of being targeted by terrorists from across the border.
However, the President Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Shahbaz Sharif said while addressing a public gathering at Sindhri in Sindh’s Mirpur Khas District on Sunday that the newspaper deluded the interview of Nawaz Sharif, adding the former prime minister couldn’t say such a thing.
Shahbaz Sharif also said Pakistan could never allow its soil to be used against any Country.
PMLN rejects all assertions, direct or implied, made in news report of DAWN,dated 12-5-18. State of Pakistan & all its institutions stand together in the global fight against terrorism. We strongly believe that interests of Pakistan r supreme to all personal & political interests
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) May 13, 2018
Meanwhile, the director general ISPR in a tweet said that Pakistan army had suggested the prime minister to discuss the recent misleading media statement regarding Mumbai attacks in the NSC meeting.
NSC meeting suggested to Prime Minister to discuss recent misleading media statement regarding Bombay incident. Being held tomorrow morning.
— Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) May 13, 2018