PM summons emergency meeting of cabinet

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has summoned an emergency meeting of the federal cabinet.

According to sources, the meeting is expected to take place at any time today, during which the country’s overall security situation will be discussed.

In light of the current security environment, key decisions are likely to be made. The cabinet is likely to propose and further amendments to the 27th Constitutional Amendment.

The government has instructed cabinet members to ensure their availability for the meeting, Dawn News reported.

Sources said important decisions regarding the national security are expected, along with the approval of other key matters. However, cabinet members have not been formally informed of the meeting’s agenda.

The government has also decided to introduce additional changes to the 27th Constitutional Amendment.

According to sources, these supplementary amendments will be tabled in the National Assembly — including proposals from both the government and the opposition. Once approved by the National Assembly, the bill will be sent back to the Senate.

The government will first seek the cabinet’s approval for the additional amendments in today’s emergency meeting. The Senate has also been summoned to meet at 5 pm today.

Meanwhile, the opposition has decided to move 11 amendments against the bill, primarily opposing proposed changes to the higher judiciary’s structure and exemptions granted under the bill.

It is worth noting that yesterday, a suicide blast in Islamabad claimed 12 lives and injured 36 others.

Pakistan has witnessed a recent surge in terrorist attacks carried out by militant groups operating from Afghanistan.

Last month, clashes broke out along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border following heightened tensions, resulting in casualties on both sides. Pakistan reportedly carried out an airstrike in Kabul targeting a high-value individual, though it has not officially acknowledged the strike.

Following the escalation, friendly nations intervened to mediate, leading to a first round of peace talks in Doha, Qatar, where a ceasefire agreement was reached. However, in the next phase, Pakistan demanded that the Afghan Taliban dismantle sanctuaries of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a demand on which no progress has yet been made.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar have publicly criticised the Afghan Taliban for failing to take action against militant groups operating from Afghan soil and carrying out attacks in Pakistan.

After the Doha talks, another round of negotiations was held in Istanbul, Türkiye, between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban, but it ended without any breakthrough.

Following that, delegations from both mediating countries visited Islamabad and Kabul for further discussions.