The Senate meets here on Friday, as the combined opposition prepares to raise its voice against the president's uniform, the government's Kashmir policy, law and order situation and price hike. "There is no change in our protest programme, however, we will like to see how the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) devises its strategy on the floor of the House," an opposition office-bearer said.
MMA has hinted at holding formal talks with the government on the uniform issue and the 17th Amendment, but insisted that the National Security Council (NSC) meeting should have been held after sorting out the issues between both the sides.
In line with its policy that the issues be settled first before they attend the council meeting, the MMA stayed away from the forum during its second meeting here in the afternoon.
Izhar Amrohvi told Business Recorder that the situation remains the same, therefore, there will be no change in the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD) and its allies' senators programme.
ARD parliamentary secretary said that there was no question of reviewing the alliance's protest strategy. "Asif Ali Zardari has been released by the court and not by the government, why should we change our approach on the issues?" He said.
The Senate's session coincides with President General Pervez Musharraf's departure for a visit abroad. Official sources said the government is expected to get approval of the Upper House of the Senate on four bills, including the bill on honour killing (Karo-Kari).
The sources said that the opposition groups were expected to resort to relatively mild protest during the session in the backdrop of recent release of spouse of Benazir Bhutto and MMA's readiness for dialogue with the government.
Meanwhile, MMA Secretary General Maulana Fazlur Rehman is unlikely to attend the much-discussed MMA rally in Karachi on November 28.
"I can't confirm Maulana Fazlur Rehman Sahib will be able to return and participate in the rally," his secretary Mufti Mohammad Ibrar said, while talking to Business Recorder.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman left for Libya on Thursday, where he has been invited to an international conference on Muslim issues. The three-day conference starts on November 26.
Is it part of an understanding between the government and the MMA that the alliance would go mild as far as its rallies were concerned is anybody's guess?
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