ID :
24309
Tue, 10/14/2008 - 14:37
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/24309
The shortlink copeid
Pak`s lawmakers to resume efforts to forge anti-terror policy
Islamabad, Oct 13 (PTI) Pakistan's lawmakers will Monday resume efforts to forge a consensus anti-terror policy during a special session of parliament amidst growing reservations expressed by the opposition parties over anti-militancy operations in the country's restive tribal belt.
The joint session of the National Assembly and Senate began on Wednesday with an in-camera briefing by Lt Gen Ahmad Shuja Pasha, the Director General-designate of the Inter- Services Intelligence, on the operations against the Taliban and the overall security scenario. This was followed by a question-and-answer session by top security officials.
However, the main opposition Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) and other parties have expressed their dissatisfaction with the briefing, saying the government had not provided any details about its policy for the war on terror.
P.M.L.-N. chief Nawaz Sharif has called for former
President Pervez Musharraf to be summoned to parliament to
give details of agreements he had forged with the U.S. for the
anti-terror campaign. The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, which is part
of the ruling Pakistan People's Party-led coalition, has even
called for halting the military operations against the
Taliban.
During Monday's session, Information Minister Sherry
Rehman will brief lawmakers on the government's anti-terror
policy. This will be followed by a debate on the security
situation and the government's policies with a view to devise
a new viable comprehensive strategy to meet security
challenges, sources said.
The session is expected to debate the issue for four
days. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani too might make a
policy statement during the debate. Parliamentarians will give
suggestions to the government regarding the anti-terror
policy.
Four key cabinet members – Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood
Qureshi, Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, Finance
Ministry chief Shaukat Tareen and Interior Ministry chief
Rehman Malik – will answer questions from lawmakers.
During the question-and-answer session with Lt Gen Pasha,
the P.M.L.-N. refrained from asking questions, saying it did
not expect appropriate answers would be given. Some lawmakers
said Pasha had confined himself to military tactics and had no
answers for questions that related to the overall anti-terror
strategy.
The joint session of the National Assembly and Senate began on Wednesday with an in-camera briefing by Lt Gen Ahmad Shuja Pasha, the Director General-designate of the Inter- Services Intelligence, on the operations against the Taliban and the overall security scenario. This was followed by a question-and-answer session by top security officials.
However, the main opposition Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) and other parties have expressed their dissatisfaction with the briefing, saying the government had not provided any details about its policy for the war on terror.
P.M.L.-N. chief Nawaz Sharif has called for former
President Pervez Musharraf to be summoned to parliament to
give details of agreements he had forged with the U.S. for the
anti-terror campaign. The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, which is part
of the ruling Pakistan People's Party-led coalition, has even
called for halting the military operations against the
Taliban.
During Monday's session, Information Minister Sherry
Rehman will brief lawmakers on the government's anti-terror
policy. This will be followed by a debate on the security
situation and the government's policies with a view to devise
a new viable comprehensive strategy to meet security
challenges, sources said.
The session is expected to debate the issue for four
days. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani too might make a
policy statement during the debate. Parliamentarians will give
suggestions to the government regarding the anti-terror
policy.
Four key cabinet members – Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood
Qureshi, Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, Finance
Ministry chief Shaukat Tareen and Interior Ministry chief
Rehman Malik – will answer questions from lawmakers.
During the question-and-answer session with Lt Gen Pasha,
the P.M.L.-N. refrained from asking questions, saying it did
not expect appropriate answers would be given. Some lawmakers
said Pasha had confined himself to military tactics and had no
answers for questions that related to the overall anti-terror
strategy.
