The Parliament on Tuesday formed a 16-member joint parliamentary draft committee, comprising representatives from all political parties, for formulating joint recommendations to get rid of the menace of terrorism and extremism. The decision to this effect was taken during the ongoing joint in-camera session of the Parliament.
The committee will be headed by Information Minister Sherry Rehman, and all political parties would be represented as per their strength in the Parliament.The members of the committee include Fazlur Rehman, Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, Haider Abbas Rizvi, Abdur Rahim Khan Mandokhel, Agha Shahid Bugti, Waseem Sajjad, Anisa Zaib Tahirkheli, Sherry Rehman, Dr Babar Awan, Munir Orakzai, Abdur Razzaq Tahim, Khursheed Ahmed and Pervaiz Ahmed.
The committee would review the official policy against terrorism and would present an effective policy to deal with the menace of terrorism. Later, it would give recommendations through a unanimous resolution to be adopted by the joint sitting.
Sources said that te in-camera meeting of the draft committee was also held to discuss Pakistan's role in war on terror and security situation in Fata and the restive Swat valley. Earlier, addressing the session, Prime Minister Gilani said that the joint sitting of the parliament would come up with a joint resolution for bringing an end to the menace of extremism and terrorism.
He said that opposition should also play its due role in bringing about this resolution. Members from all political parties in Senate and National Assembly participated in the discussion. Ahsan Iqbal, of PML-N, reiterated the stance of his party and demanded of the government to review its policy against terrorism, especially in tribal areas, and settling the issue through talks.
He said that the government should first stop the military operation, and then start negotiation. PML-Q prepared its own resolution and held meetings with MQM and JUI and discussed the resolution with them. Tariq Azeem said that his party had started consultations with other political parties to bring consensus recommendations for a new policy.
He said they would also hold meetings with other parties and convince them to bring their own recommendations, if the government did not accept the recommendations of the joint committee constituted on Tuesday. Marvi Memon said that the government wants to make the Parliament a rubber-stamp body, and was following the dictation of United States in formulating policies on war on terror.
She said that PML-Q has started consultations with all political parties, in and outside the Parliament, to evolve a security policy by giving priority to national interests. She said that her party would bring its own resolution, if the government continued to follow US dictations.