Prime Minister Imran Khan has expressed willingness to dissolve the National Assembly to avert a national political crisis provided the opposition takes back the no-confidence vote in the lower house of parliament to oust him, Aaj News reported on Thursday

The development took place during the National Security Committee (NSC) meeting under the chairmanship of PM Imran in Islamabad.

Federal ministers of defence, energy, information & broadcasting, interior, finance, human rights, planning, development & special initiatives, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, services chiefs, national security adviser and senior officers attended the meeting.

The NSA briefed the committee on the formal communication of a senior official of a foreign country to Pakistan’s ambassador in the said country in a formal meeting, which was duly conveyed by the ambassador to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The committee expressed grave concern at the communication, terming the language used by the foreign official as undiplomatic. The committee concluded that the communication amounted to blatant interference in the internal affairs of Pakistan by the country in question, which was unacceptable under any circumstances.

The committee decided that Pakistan will issue a strong demarche to the country in question both in Islamabad and in the country’s capital through proper channel in keeping with diplomatic norms.

Participants also endorsed the cabinet’s decision in the special cabinet meeting held on Wednesday to take the parliament into confidence through an in-camera briefing to the National Security Committee of the Parliament.

Earlier, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry had tweeted about the meeting earlier in the day.

"The prime minister has convened a meeting of the National Security Committee, which will be held at the Prime Minister's House today post-afternoon," he tweeted.

The NSC is the apex body for coordination on security issues and includes key federal ministers, the national security adviser, services chiefs and intelligence officials.

The announcement came a day after PM Imran shared the letter - cited by him as proof of an internationally-funded conspiracy to remove him from power - with cabinet members as well as select journalists. On the same day, the premier met the army chief, in which the contents of the alleged letter were reportedly discussed. The premier had stated earlier that the contents of the letter would be shared with the top civil-military leadership.

Representatives of allies - including MQM-P's Khalid Maqbool and BAP's Khalid Magsi, who have since agreed to support the opposition on the no-confidence vote seeking PM Imran's ouster - declined to attend the meeting in which the premier shared the contents of the alleged letter.

Address to the nation

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry also announced that the premier would address the nation today.

This is the second time in two days that the announcement has been made regarding PM Imran's address as the country remains in the grips of frenzied political activity, with political fortunes in a seesaw until the MQM-P's switch that has given the opposition a distinctive advantage in the numbers game.

On Wednesday, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid had told media that the prime minister would address the nation later in the day [Wednesday]. The same update was shared by several other members of the PTI leadership including Senator Faisal Javed on social media.

However, it was later announced that the address to the nation - usually broadcast on national and private television channels - had been postponed.

Meanwhile, sources add the National Assembly speaker has summoned a meeting of the parliamentary committee on national security for an in-camera session at 6pm. The military leadership is expected to be part of the meeting as well along with over 100 parliamentarians.