Ruling and opposition leaders' foreign tours hamper government efforts: briefing on security issues

The departure of central leaders of the ruling coalition as well as the opposition on foreign tours hampers the efforts the government is taking for briefing the parliamentarians on security issues. Informed sources told Business Recorder here on Monday, that almost all the central leaders of the PPP, the PML-N and MQM are touring either the US or Saudi Arabia.
This is the reason that forced the government to hold this briefing immediately. There is likelihood that this briefing would be held soon after the upcoming Eid holidays. The presence of chief of army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani is also must for this briefing. However, he embarked upon an important visit of China on Monday.
Apart from this, a number of MNAs and Senators are visiting Saudi Arabia to perform Umra. The PPP Senator, Babar Awan told a foreign radio on Monday that the government would arrange a briefing on security issue for both houses of the parliament soon. However, he did not give any specific date.
Meanwhile, speaker National Assembly Dr Fehmida Mirza also left Islamabad for the United States on a five-day visit on the invitation of US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Officials in National Assembly secretariat said on Monday that the speaker flew to the US to join Pakistani women parliamentarians who are already there. The women parliamentarian delegation included MNAs Firdous Ashiq Awan, Azra Fazal Pechuho, Khushbakht Shujaat, Tehmina Daultana and some others. These MNAs are already there.
Sources said the purpose of the Speaker and other female parliamentarians' visit was to develop interaction with the US parliamentarians. Beside this, these women MNAs will try to meet Dr Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani being detained in the US on charges of links with al Qaeda. However, meeting with Dr Siddiqui would be subject to the approval by the US authorities.