Indian LoC violation: Parliamentary leaders to be given in-camera briefing

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Web Desk
A joint session of Parliament has been summoned tomorrow. Photo: File

ISLAMABAD: Parliamentary leaders will be given an in-camera briefing today (Wednesday) on the prevailing situation in the wake of India's Line of Control (LoC) violation.

The in-camera briefing will be given after a meeting of the top civil and military leadership.

A joint session of the Parliament has been summoned tomorrow (Thursday) over the opposition's demand in the wake of India's Line of Control (LoC) violation.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan had told a Senate session on Tuesday that a joint session of the Parliament has been summoned to give a strong message to New Delhi that the nation is united in the face of Indian aggression.

During Tuesday's National Assembly session, opposition leaders called for a joint session of Parliament to discuss and draft a plan of action against India's aggression.

Pakistan Peoples Party's (PPP) Khursheed Shah and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Khawaja Asif had urged that political parties set their differences aside and put on a united front in the wake of India's aggression.

Stating that "we are in a state of war", Shah had said, "The Parliament should sit together and decide."

"India wishes to exploit our internal differences and attack us," Shah said, "We have to show to India and the world that the entire nation is united."

Asif had seconded Shah's demand for a parliamentary session and called on all parties to "be united" and to show solidarity with the armed forces. "Our country, our sovereignty and our integrity are being threatened," Asif said.

"It is not the time for political point-scoring and we should put aside our differences and unite the entire nation," he added. "We are standing behind our armed forces like an iron wall."

"The entire nation will have to firmly issue a united response to India," the former defence minister asserted. "We should not hesitate to help Kashmiris."

Indian military aircraft violated the LoC as they "intruded" from the Muzaffarabad sector and were forced to return owing to the timely response of the Pakistan Air Force, Pakistan Army spokesperson Major General Asif Ghafoor said early Tuesday.

"Indian aircraft intrusion across LoC in Muzafarabad Sector within AJK was 3-4 miles. Under forced hasty withdrawal aircraft released payload which had free fall in open area. No infrastructure got hit, no casualties. Technical details and other important information to follow," Major General Ghafoor wrote on Twitter.

The incursion into the Pakistani air space follows a series of threats by Indian political and military leadership following the attack on an Indian Army convoy at Pulwama by a local youth, in reaction to the oppression unleashed by the occupational forces.