Opposition parties in the Senate met here on Monday to thrash out a common strategy vis-à-vis the current session, which included the option of filing a no-trust motion against the Deputy Chairman Commander Khalilur Rehman. "The way we are being cornered and marginalised, we have no other option but to review our approach of co-operation with the treasury in smooth functioning of the House," opposition sources told Business Recorder on Sunday.
Opposition leaders remained in contact on Saturday and Sunday, but will formally meet prior to the session at the Parliament House on Monday to adopt a joint line of action, they added.
In reply to a question, sources said that no one from the government approached the opposition on the issue of Friday sitting.
The chair had deliberately ignored the opposition senators' call for counting, as they insisted the House lacked quorum on Friday.
However, two bills were passed within no time, prompting the opposition to lash the chair and the treasury for not going for counting.
By and large, as compared to the National Assembly, relations between the treasury and the opposition in the Senate have been relatively better. However, the first sitting of the 18th session has changed the status quo, angering the opposition.
Without any doubt, the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) decision not to attend recent National Security Council (NSC) meeting, had already boosted prospects of joining of its hands with the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD), sources replied to a question.
"The chair and the treasury bypassed us and now we will decide what strategy should we collectively draw up to cope with this new phenomenon," Senator Gulnaseeb of MMA remarked.
Meanwhile, the ruling coalition, ARD and its allied parties closely watched the MMA's much-publicised rally in Karachi, which is seen as a prelude to MMA and ARD's countrywide anti-Musharraf campaign.
The religious alliance gathered a sizeable number of people at Nishtar Park; two days after President Musharraf left for a foreign visit.
Generally speaking, the tone and approach of the government towards the opposition has changed: PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari was released after eight years confinement and for the first time since Sharif family left the country, President Musharraf talked to Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif on telephone and condoled Mian Sharif's death.
However, Pakistan Muslim League - (Nawaz) brushed aside the President's gesture as a mere gimmick as put by the party's Acting President Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Saturday. But overall mood of the powers that be appears to be slightly changing.
President Musharraf, himself is avoiding passing comments against the opposition parties or their leaders, of late. Likewise, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has been calling for reconciliation.
It, however, is needless to say that December holds key to future politics. President Musharraf is supposed to doff his uniform by December 31 in line with the 17th Amendment. Though, he has indicated not to quit as the army chief.
Interestingly, he has yet to give his assent to the 'dual office bill', already passed by the National Assembly and the Senate. Several days have passed, but the bill has not been signed by him, giving rise to some speculations that he might be facing a state of indecision.
But again, if it is so then, why he gave green signal for this piece of legislation?
So, next month is extremely important for President Musharraf and the opposition parties, as it can be decider of the future contours of politics.
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