National Assembly body on Defence to work as bridge between Armed Forces and Parliament

Chairperson National Assembly Standing Committee on Defence Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho on Saturday said that the Committee would work as a bridge between the Defence Forces and the Parliament. Chairing the meeting of the Standing Committee on Defence held in the Parliament House, she said that the Committee bears highly significant role, which should be reflective in its working and performance.
The Committee chalked out tentative schedule of the meetings to be held in the due course. The meeting agreed to have briefing on the counter terrorism policy of the Government in the Joint Staff Headquarter on June 2 and 3, focusing on its objectives, the progress made so far and its long term impacts on the country.
The Committee would also have briefings from all the wings of Armed Forces besides discussing the overall functioning of PIAC in July 2009. The Committee decided to launch its Website containing its functioning, so that the general public may also know about its activities.
The Committee also offered Fateha for the departed souls of Jawans and Officers of Armed Forces who have sacrificed their lives while discharging their duties during the War against Terrorism and expressed solidarity with the internally displaced persons (IDPs) hoping for early repatriation to their homes. The meeting was attended by MNAs, Dr Talat Mahesar, Syed Haider Ali Shah, Sardar Mehtab Ahmad Khan, Bilal Ahmad Virk, Begum Ishrat Ashraf, Shagufta Sadiq, Sardar Talib Hassan Nakai, Dr Abdul Wahid Soomro and Jawad Hussain.