The Defence Committee of the National Assembly has expressed deep sorrow and regret over the loss of lives in Pahalgam, condemning the incident in the strongest terms.
The meeting of the Defence Committee was held in the Parliament House in Islamabad, chaired by Chairman Fatahullah Khan. The Committee firmly rejected the accusations made by India against Pakistan, deeming them baseless and provocative. In its statement, the Committee emphasized that Pakistan, as a responsible state, has always made serious efforts for peace in the region and has been a victim of terrorism itself. However, the Committee asserted that should India take any unwarranted actions, Pakistan possesses the full capability to respond effectively and appropriately.
The Committee expressed concerns over India’s unilateral suspension of the Indus Water Treaty, the closure of the Attari border, and the return of ambassadors, stating that such actions could escalate tensions between the two nuclear-armed states in the region.
During the meeting, the Committee reviewed the “Pakistan Navy (Amendment) Bill 2024” in detail. The Ministry of Defence informed the Committee about the key provisions of the bill, which include reforms related to welfare activities, electronic crimes, and procedural changes. The Ministry stated that these amendments are being made to align with recent amendments to the Army and Air Force Acts to ensure uniformity in the laws of all three armed forces. The Committee recommended the bill be passed by the National Assembly unanimously.
Furthermore, a briefing was provided by the Surveyor General of Pakistan and the Secretaries of the Department of Mineral Resources from all four provinces and Gilgit-Baltistan regarding the involvement of the private sector in the survey and mapping of mineral resources. The Committee stressed the need to prioritize the services of the Surveyor General’s Department over private institutions to ensure the protection of sensitive information.
The Committee also discussed the disparity in the distribution of funds between FGIE educational institutions under the Ministry of Defence and FDE institutions under the Ministry of Education. It was decided that the Secretaries of Finance and Planning would be invited to the next meeting to provide clarification on the unequal distribution of funds.
Members of the National Assembly who attended the meeting included Aqeel Malik, Abrar Ahmed, Saba Sadiq, Asfandyar Bhandara, Salahuddin Jonejo, Sanjay Prowani, Gul Asghar Khan, Plain Baloch, Mohammad Aslam Ghuman, Ghulam Mohammad, and Miss Zaib Jafar (Parliamentary Secretary for Defence).
Additionally, the meeting was attended by Secretary of Defence Lieutenant General (R) Muhammad Ali HI(M), Additional Secretary (Army) Major General Aamir Ashfaq Kayani, senior officers from the Ministry of Law and Justice, Defence, and provincial governments.
