National Security Conference begins

National Security Conference headed by Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has begun here on Tuesday.

The conference, aimed at evolving a joint strategy in the wake of Mumbai terror attacks, is being attended by heads of more than 58 political parties.

The prime minister had summoned the conference on national security on Sunday with a view to creating “political consensus” on the situation after Mumbai mayhem and the Indian allegations against Pakistan.

Leaders of the major political parties, including Mian Nawaz Sharif, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Imran Khan, Qazi Hussain Ahmed, Asfandyar Wali, Dr Farooq Sattar, Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Mehmud Khan Achakzai are attending the conference.

Source hinted there were chances that at the conclusion of the daylong conference a resolution would be adopted to give a message to India and the world that the Pakistani nation stood united on the issue of national security.

In his telephonic conversation with the leaders of various political parties, the prime minister received all-out support to meet the situation arising out of the Mumbai terror attacks. The prime minister has also briefed President Asif Ali Zardari about his talks with the political leaders.

Prior to the conference, all political parties held consultative meetings with their top leadership to chalk out the party stance in the conference while giving all-out support to the government on the single-point agenda of national security.

Sources further said Foreign Minister Shah Mehmud Qureshi and Adviser on National Security Mehmud Ali Durrani would also brief the leaders on the situation in the wake of attacks in Mumbai.