PM heads back to capital today, calls NSC moot on Friday

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has called a meeting of the National Security Council on Friday in Islamabad, as he will leave for the federal capital today (Thursday) after spending almost two months away from the Prime Minister’s Office due to his medical treatment.

“The prime minister has summoned a meeting of the National Security Council on Friday. He will also chair important meetings on matters related to energy, internal and external security and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC),” an informed source told Pakistan Today.

Another source said that the prime minister had decided to record a message on the Black Day and a Pakistan Television (PTV) team had arrived at his Raiwind residence to record the message. However, two television channels broke the news, suggesting that the PM was going to address the nation. This misleading news made the prime minister change his mind and he decided not to record even the message for the PTV and the team was asked to leave. The move shows that the prime minister did not want to ignite tensions between Islamabad and New Delhi further. Later, a message was released for the media on the Black Day.

There were several reports published in news media saying the Chinese side was not happy with the implementation of the CPEC project. Chinese Ambassador Sun Weidong, however, clarified that China was satisfied with the pace of CPEC’s implementation and that no such concern had been shared with Pakistan. However, sources in the federal government suggest the concern was genuine and may need the prime minister’s immediate attention.

The power shortage in the country has continued to translate into long hours of load shedding and with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s call to launch street protests on August 7, the PM will hold meetings with his team with a view to improving the situation.

Civil-military relations are once again in the headlines after reports of differences on various policy decisions.

Of late, however, the prime minister appears to be taking a strong stance against the Indian oppression in Occupied Kashmir, on the army’s prompting, some point out. This posturing is likely to help reduce tensions.