Panel set up to persuade opposition to take part in National Assembly business

Sensing gravity of the situation, the government on Tuesday formed a three-member committee to persuade the opposition to take part in National Assembly business.
On the other hand, the opposition sounded optimism about its success in the no-confidence motion against Speaker Amir Hussain to be taken up on October 22 (Friday).
Surprisingly, the lack of quorum was not pointed out despite the fact that only around 76-78 members were present in the House at one point of time when the opposition staged walkout after the usual sloganeering against President Musharraf. The sitting began half an hour behind schedule.
Complying with the proposal floated by Information Minister Rashid Ahmed, the Speaker announced formation of the committee. It comprises Sheikh Rashid, Liaquat Jatoi and Ejazul Haq.
Some treasury members, including Ejaz, tried in vain, immediately after the committee was announced, to convince the opposition legislators to end their boycott.
Several treasury members appreciated the proposal, as the opposition speaking at a news conference in Parliament Cafeteria, vowed to launch a joint struggle for the restoration of Parliament's 'sovereignty', compelling President Musharraf to quit.
PPPP's Mehmood Qureshi said a wave of pervasive uncertainty had gripped the ruling coalition. "The sense of defeat is reflective from information minister's statement that the government members may abstain during the no-confidence motion voting against the speaker," he said.
He challenged the government to conduct voting through secret ballot to ascertain its position and strength after recent developments. "The list of angry ruling coalition members has crossed 40 mark, who have openly criticised the speaker's attitude and are willing to vote against him," Qureshi from Multan claimed.
Smelling the fluid situation, he said, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz was frequently holding meetings with MNAs to keep their loyalty intact. He added that the group of disgruntled MNAs was engaged in chalking out their future strategy.
He hinted at the possibility of replacement of PML chief Shujaat Hussain with someone else. "Zafarullah Jamali's name is also in circulation for the PML top slot," he added.
The PPPP member alleged that speaker had lost credibility as partial custodian of the House and the opposition would like to see his back.
PML(N) Tehmina Daultana dubbed the present set-up as camouflaged martial law, adding that the rulers should openly declare martial law instead of deceiving the nation and the world community. "No one from the opposition is allowed to speak or contribute to legislation. In such a situation, it is better to impose martial law," she asserted.
She said that scores of treasury members were unhappy with the government and in their private meetings openly expressed their reservations over the system of governance.
MMA's Hafiz Hussain Ahmed said that their alliance would welcome other opposition parties to join the anti-Musharraf movement, beginning from November 28.
He that MMA had decided that Leader of Opposition Fazlur Rehman and NWFP Chief Minister Akram Durrani would not attend the October 22 National Security Council meeting. He expressed hope that the two-member ARD committee (Amin Fahim and Zafarul Haq) would yield positive results vis-à-vis the formation of opposition united front.
After the passage of 'dual office' bill, Pervaiz Ashraf said, the Assembly had become a mere joke and the Parliament made irrelevant. "Those who supported a military dictator today stand exposed. Every democratic mind is convinced that there can be no question of democracy under a military dictator," he said.
The bill, he cautioned, had endangered the very foundation of the Federation, choking the voice of the provinces and the parliamentarians.
Balochistan National Party MNA Rauf Mengal said President Musharraf would not be able to withstand the opposition movement and bow out within no time. He said that Pakistan Oppressed Nations Movement would fully support and participate in the ARD-MMA programmes for restoration of democracy and the Parliament's supremacy.
Liaquat Baloch said the opposition had chalked out its strategy for the motion against the speaker, as many treasury members would also be voting against him.
He demanded that voting should be held through secret ballot.
Referring to NSC, he said that the rulers had laid foundation of a supra-constitutional body, undermining the Parliament and the Cabinet.