Opposition parties on Saturday decided to adopt a joint strategy in joint sitting of the parliament with regard to new terms of engagement with the US and resumption of Nato supplies, declaring that they would not allow the PPP-led coalition government to hijack the parliament on the basis of sheer numbers to adopt any resolution of its choice.
The understanding was reached at a meeting held here at the residence of Jamait Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman, which was participated by leader of opposition in National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and Senator Mushahidullah Khan of PML-N, PPP-Sherpao chairman Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao, PML-Q like-minded leader Salim Saifullah Khan, National Party leader Dr Ishaq and others. The joint-sitting of the parliament is scheduled to initiate a debate on the recommendations of Parliamentary committee on national security tomorrow (Monday).
The opposition announced that it would only support a resolution if that document also contained its recommendations on the reopening of Nato supply routes and Islamabad's future relationship with Washington. Talking to reporters after the meeting Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said that the opposition decided to float a condition of a 'guarantee' by the government to ensure that fate of the resolution would not be similar to previous unanimous resolutions adopted by the parliament and the all parties' conference held in the backdrop of Abbottabad incident. "We want a 'guarantee' to be given that all the previous resolution should also be implemented in letters and spirit," he added.
About the resumption of Nato supplies, he said that a unanimous resolution based on recommendations of the opposition should be adopted by the parliament on the matter, adding that the opposition parties in the meeting agreed on pursuing a joint strategy in the session. He warned the government of hijacking proceedings of the joint sitting of the parliament, saying "we will not allow the parliamentary session to be 'hijacked' in any way." he said if the government passed any resolution on the basis of its numerical majority without taking the opposition on board it would be considered as government decision but not of the parliament as a whole.
To a question, he said that no committee could be a substitute of the parliament, adding that his party's members of the parliamentary committee on national security had submitted notes of dissent prior to finalising the recommendations but they were not considered.
About de-seating Arbab Ghulam Rahim from the Sindh Assembly, Chaudhry Nisar said that it was an act of condemnation and the opposition would launch a drive to restore his membership. He argued that during negotiation on the passage of 20th constitutional amendment, Minister for Religious Affairs Syed Khursheed Shah had pledged to notify Arbab Ghulam Rahim as opposition leader in Sindh Assembly. But instead declaring his seat as 'vacant by the PPP government' is deplorable, he added.
Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman said that the opposition parties would adopt a stance in the parliament which would be in better national interest. When asked what would be the line of action if any resolution was passed without taking the opposition on board, the JUI-F chief said that they would pursue democratic way whatsoever would be the case.
He said that the opposition would continue to exert pressure on the government through democratic ways for adopting a unanimous stance on the issues of national interest. He said that the entire opposition parties were united on the broader national interests.
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