National Security Council established

A civilian-military National Security Council (NSC) was formally set up in Pakistan yesterday as President Pervez Musharraf signed a bill passed by the Parliament last week for the establishment of the 13-member consultative forum.

Headed by the president, the NSC is composed of the prime minister, the Senate chairman, the National Assembly speaker, the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, four provincial chief ministers and chiefs of army, navy and air force.

The speaker of the National Assembly has not nominated a leader of the opposition in the National Assembly so far. The Muttahida Majlis Amal religious alliance and the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy have been vying for the slot.

The NSC will deal with issues related to national security, sovereignty and integrity as well as crisis management. It recommendations will be forwarded to the parliament.

The opposition parties have bitterly contested the establishment of the NSC on the grounds that it gives the armed forces a legal role in governance and that it would erode the authority of Parliament.