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ISLAMABAD: The first meeting of all powerful National Security Council has been summoned by President Pervez Musharraf on the 24th of this month.

Secretary NSC Mr Tariq Aziz while confirming the meeting said that the meeting is being convened primarily to discuss law and order situation in the country. He said although agenda for the meeting is still being finalised but it certainly does not contain any political item. Aziz was trying to shun rumours about his being proactive in any possible future change in the government.

“There is no political item on the agenda of upcoming NSC meeting,” Tariq Aziz said by adding; prevailing law and order situation in the country has necessitated this meeting.

It is believed that NSC will take stock of law and order situation with a particular focus on violence in Karachi. NSC will also discuss threadbare the situation in Wana and Waziristan where Army and civil armed forces are engaged in war against terrorism. Sending of troops to Iraq will be another item on agenda of the meeting.

Although the NSC is not a decision making body, it has the mandate to make recommendations to the government about matters relating to internal and external security threats and challenges. While President will chair the meeting, Prime Minister will attend the meeting as a member.

Fazl Agrees to Attend

Most significantly leader of the Opposition Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman is reported to have agreed in principle to participate in the NSC meeting. Sources close to the Maulana claimed that MMA Supreme Council will meet soon to formally approve his participation in the NSC meeting. MMA leaders feel that by attending this meeting the religious alliance will be able to register its concerns over Wana operation in the presence of Services Chiefs and Chief Ministers.

They believe that their cause would be best served by sitting inside the NSC rather than staying out of it. Similarly President Musharraf and other services chiefs also hold strong conviction that MMA leadership should be able to interact with them to evolve better understanding on issues such as religious extremism, Wana operation and other internal security matters.

Divergent Political Forces

It will be for the first time that divergent political forces will sit on a table with men in uniform to discuss matters of national importance. Traditionally men in uniform and political forces have never felt comfortable with each other and establishment of NSC was opposed tooth and nail by the opposition. MMA however voted for it in the parliament. It is believed that NSC will make some far-reaching recommendations to the government to improve the internal and external security situation in the country.

National Security Bill was passed by the Senate as recommended by the Nationa Assembly. The Bill is to provide for the establishment of a National Security Council to serve as a forum for consultation on matters of national security including the sovereignty, integrity, defense, security of the State and crisis management.

Composition

The NSC is headed by the President, other members are the Prime Minister, the Chairman of the Senate, the Speaker of the National Assembly, the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, the Chief Ministers of the Provinces, the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and the Chiefs of Staff of the Pakistan Army, Pakistan Navy and Pakistan Air Force.