Islamabad, May 14: The Pakistan Army has called for a meeting of the National Security Committee on Monday to discuss the "misleading" statements issued by ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif on the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, perpetrated in 2008.

Major General Asif Ghafoor, the official spokesperson of Pakistan Army, issued a statement on Sunday claiming the forces have called upon PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to conduct a meeting of the NSC at the earliest.

Sharif, who was disqualified from the prime ministerial post by the country's Supreme Court in July last year, stoked a controversy on Saturday. During an interview, he admitted the role of Pakistan-based terrorists in the 26/11 attacks, which claimed the lives of 166 people and left over 300 injured.

"Militant organisations are active. Call them non-state actors. Should we allow them to cross the border and kill 150 people in Mumbai? Why can’t we complete the trial," Sharif said, raising questions at the judiciary.

The three-time PM's remark comes weeks before the Pakistan's judiciary is expected to conclude its hearing in the case.

His statements drew flak from the Opposition and domestic security analysts, saying it could invite action from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the global watchdog which tracks financing of terror groups. The FATF, while reviewing Islamabad earlier in the year, placed it on the grey list.

Imran Khan, the leader of Pakistan-Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and prime challenger to the PM chair in the upcoming polls, said Sharif has turned into a "traitor" to save his own personal interests.

"I thought Sharif is now a history. He has been exposed for his corruption. The apex court has shamed him and dismissed him from the Office. But I am taken by surprise that he has now turned into an anti-national," he said, adding that the former PM's claim on 26/11 attacks are "totally false and baseless".

Meanwhile, Indian Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the statements of Nawaz Sharif have validated what New Delhi has been saying over the past decade. "We hope that Pakistan will finally prosecute those who planned and orchestrated the terror attack in Mumbai," she said.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 14, 2018 09:23 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).