The opposition has decided to boycott an in-camera national security briefing.

ISLAMABAD: Opposition parties have agreed to boycott the forthcoming national security committee in-camera briefing on December 6, citing the government’s “dictatorial” behaviour as the cause.

According to a news release issued by Parliament’s unified opposition, parties affiliated with the Pakistan Democratic Movement anti-government alliance have always taken matters affecting the constitution, law, national security, and the general public seriously and assigned priority to them.

According to the media release, despite the absence of the prime minister, the Opposition parties and their leaders not only attended briefings on these issues, but also gave proposals to resolve them.

According to the Opposition’s statement, the government’s totalitarian stance and recent effort to bulldoze critical laws through Parliament forced them to boycott the in-camera briefing session.

The press statement expressed disappointment that the government’s recent measures were transforming Parliament into a “rubber-stamp” institution.

The opposition criticised the administration of failing to raise crucial concerns involving foreign and internal dangers, as well as those affecting the average man, while claiming that such in-camera briefings were addressing critical topics.

“In truth, the administration has essentially boycotted Parliament, which is a constitutional and legal forum for the people,” the Opposition stated in a statement.

The opposition said that the prime minister had failed to attend Parliamentary briefings and sessions, citing a session on occupied Kashmir as an example. The statement went on to say that it demonstrates how the prime minister does not believe in the democratic spirit of consultation or the need of accepting opposing viewpoints.

It stated that, in such circumstances, attending the in-camera briefing session would enable the administration in staging another play unrelated to the vital challenges confronting the country.

Taking aim at National Security Advisor Moeed Yusuf, the Opposition said that Yusuf lacks the requisite power that his post requires, and that he is only a “showpiece.”

The PML-N, PPP, JUI-F, PK-MAP, JI, ANP, BNP-Mengal, Qaumi Watan, NP, and Mohsin Dawar are among the opposition parties.