The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has announced that it will boycott the in-camera session of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS) regarding security matters unless its leaders are allowed to meet the party’s incarcerated founder, Imran Khan. Following a late-night meeting, PTI’s political committee issued a statement emphasizing that its participation in the crucial National Assembly session was contingent on securing a meeting with Khan beforehand.
This stance comes a day after the multi-party opposition alliance, Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP), led by Mahmood Khan Achakzai, also declared a boycott of the session.
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Additionally, Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal and Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) Chairman Allama Raja Nasir Abbas announced that their parties would not attend either. In light of these developments, PTI leaders urged the party’s central leadership to hold a meeting and seek permission from Khan before making a final decision on attending the session.
After thorough deliberation, PTI reaffirmed that its representatives would only participate if the government facilitated a meeting with the former prime minister. PTI’s Information Secretary, Sheikh Waqas Akram, confirmed that an emergency political committee meeting was convened to determine the party’s position. It was unanimously decided that PTI would not attend unless its demand was met.
Party insiders revealed that several core committee members objected to the earlier submission of names for the session, arguing that Chief Whip Aamir Dogar had provided the list without proper consultation. However, sources confirmed that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur would attend the session to represent his province, which has been heavily affected by terrorist attacks. Gandapur was reportedly briefed on the security situation in KP ahead of the meeting.
Previously, NA Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and Federal Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry had requested PTI to submit names for the session. The party nominated 14 representatives, including Barrister Gohar Khan, Asad Qaiser, Zartaj Gul, Aamir Dogar, Ali Muhammad Khan, Barrister Ali Zafar, and Sahibzada Hamid Raza.
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On Monday, Aamir Dogar met with Speaker Ayaz Sadiq and requested that a three-member parliamentary delegation be allowed to meet Khan before the security briefing. He later claimed that the Speaker and other ministers had assured him of coordination with the relevant authorities, but no such meeting took place.
In-Camera Session
The in-camera session of parliament is scheduled for Tuesday at 11 a.m., during which military officials will brief lawmakers on the country’s security situation, particularly in light of recent terrorist attacks. Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political and Public Affairs, Rana Sanaullah, stated that civil and military leadership would discuss strategies to prevent Afghanistan from becoming a “proxy” state.
Speaking on Geo News’ program Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath, Sanaullah highlighted that the session would focus on persuading Afghanistan to maintain neutrality and explore possible actions if Kabul refuses to prevent militants from using its territory. The meeting follows a surge in terrorist incidents, including a major attack on a passenger train in Balochistan’s Mushqaf area.
On Tuesday, militants affiliated with the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) blew up a railway track and attacked the Jaffar Express, which was carrying over 440 passengers. The attackers took hostages before security forces launched a clearance operation, neutralizing 33 terrorists and rescuing the passengers. The attack resulted in 26 deaths, including 18 security personnel, three railway officials, and five civilians.
Following the operation, Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry revealed that the terrorists were in contact with handlers in Afghanistan. His remarks reflect Pakistan’s longstanding demand that Kabul prevent terrorist organizations from operating within its borders. This position is supported by the Global Terrorism Index 2025, which highlights Afghanistan’s role in harboring militant groups.
During Monday’s program, Sanaullah accused the interim Afghan government of providing safe havens for terrorists, allowing them to train, plan, and execute attacks. He also claimed that these groups receive funding from India and vowed that their safe havens would be dismantled in the coming weeks and months.
When asked about Afghanistan’s willingness to cooperate, Sanaullah stated that the military leadership was implementing a multi-faceted strategy and would seek input from civil leadership on how to prevent Afghanistan from becoming a proxy or an instrument of Indian influence. However, he asserted that even if Afghanistan refuses to comply, alternative solutions are available.
The session will be attended by Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir, ISPR DG Asim Malik, and other senior military officials, who will brief lawmakers. Sanaullah also hinted that if required, PML-N President and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif could play a role in addressing the security concerns.
Both Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, which share borders with Afghanistan, have borne the brunt of terrorist attacks. According to the Global Terrorism Index 2025, these two provinces accounted for over 96% of all terrorist attacks and fatalities in Pakistan in 2024.