ISLAMABAD: A meeting of National Security Committee was underway at the Prime Minister House under the chair of PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to discuss the controversial statement of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif regarding the Mumbai attacks.

The military leadership has taken a serious notice of contents of an interview given by the PML-N leader.

In a Twitter statement on Sunday, Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asif Ghafoor said that the meeting would be held today (Monday). “NSC meeting suggested to prime minister to discuss recent misleading media statement regarding Bombay incident. Being held tomorrow morning (Monday),” he tweeted.

The NSC, headed by the prime minister, also comprises defence minister, foreign minister, interior minister, finance minister, chairman joint chiefs of staff committee, three services chiefs, national security adviser, DG ISI and others.

Nawaz Sharif, in a recent interview, had said, “Militant organisations are active. Call them non-state actors, should we allow them to cross the border and kill 150 people in Mumbai Explain it to me. Why can’t we complete the trial”

Earlier, the PML-N issued a clarification stating that Nawaz Sharif's remarks were "grossly misinterpreted by Indian media". "Unfortunately, a section of Pakistani electronic and social media has intentionally or unintentionally not only validated but has lent credence to the malicious propaganda of Indian media without going through the full facts of the statement," a party spokesman said.

The spokesman said the PML-N as the country’s premier popular national political party and its Quaid needs no certificate from anybody on their commitment and capacity to preserve, protect and promote Pakistan’s national security. He said after all, it was Nawaz Sharif who resisting all pressures took the most important and most difficult decision on national security in Pakistan s history by making the country a nuclear power in May 1998.

The spokesman added that Nawaz's comments about Shahbaz Sharif's role in the party's election campaign are also being misinterpreted. "Mian Shahbaz Sharif is the elected President of PML-N and, in this capacity, he is already at the forefront of theelection campaign, taking the PML-N message to every nook and corner of the country," the statement read.

Meanwhile, reacting vehemently to Nawaz Sharif’s interview, the PTI Chairman Imran Khan said Nawaz was the modern day Mir Jafar, who collaborated with the British to enslave his nation for personal gains.

“Today NS stands exposed before the nation. To try protect his wrongdoings he is not only willing to destroy all Pak state institutions, including army, NAB, SC, but also the future of our country,” he said in a series of tweets.

Imran wrote, “the big question is: Why, when he was in power for over 4 years, his puppet is still holding power today, he did not speak out and take action” He added: “Nawaz Sharif is the modern-day Mir Jafar, who collaborated with the British to enslave his nation for personal gains. Nawaz speaking Modi's language against Pak state simply to protect his ill-gotten Rs300b stashed in his sons companies abroad.”

Opposition Leader in Senate Sherry Rehman slammed Nawaz Sharif for his statement and said it backed Modi's stance. "The PPP rejects Nawaz Sharif's statement and stance (on Mumbai attacks). Is he (Nawaz) an analyst that he's giving out such statements" she questioned.

She said questions were being raised all around the world following Nawaz's remarks. "Why didn't Nawaz also say that Pakistan tried (very) hard to cooperate with India in the Mumbai trials" she added.

Former interior minister and PPP Senator Abdul Rehman Malik held India responsible for the Mumbai attacks, saying the incident had been engineered to divert world attention from the violation of human rights in Kashmir.

Rehman Malik said in a statement that Pakistan played no role in the incident. Referring to Nawaz Sharif’s statement on the incident, Rehman Malik said: "Such a statement implicating Pakistan amounts to backing UN resolution against Hafiz Saeed who was found 'not' involved in this attack."

He called upon Nawaz Sharif to withdraw his statement that created a false impression about Pakistan's role. He also advised Nawaz to take a briefing to mark difference between "state actors and non-state actors".

He said Nawaz Sharif's statement was totally different from the PPP's point of view on the subject. Another senior PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira said the controversial statement of Nawaz Sharif is sorrowful and treacherous. Talking to a private TV channel, Kaira said that Nawaz was trying to fight the key national institutions.

The PML-Q leader and former deputy prime minister Pervaiz Elahi said Nawaz has stooped to commit treason with Pakistan for hiding his corruption. Pervaiz Elahi said selfish elements engaged in hatching conspiracies against Pakistan and its institutions with the help of their foreign patrons should not forget that 200 million patriotic people of Pakistan will foil their every evil attempt and plan. He said that while speaking against Pakistan and its institutions, Nawaz should remember he has attained this status because of this country.

Former federal minister Muhammad Ali Durrani said the Cabinet Committee on Defence and National Security should put bar on the prime minister, ministers and all government functionaries from meeting or having contact with Nawaz and legal proceedings must be initiated against him under Official Secret Act.

“Time has come that Shahbaz Sharif as President and Central Executive Committee (CEC) of the PML-N should stand up against Nawaz Sharif to manifest patriotism by distancing them from his anti-Pakistan concocted statement involving country in Mumbai attacks falsely,” he said.