ISLAMABAD - Amid the Pak-US relations in a deepening conflict after the September 13 attack on the US Embassy and Nato Headquarters in Kabul, Pakistans Parliament and a number of its committees, charged with the responsibility to oversee national security, foreign affairs and defence, seem to be indifferent. A press statement issued by Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development And Transparency (PILDAT) said on Friday that at the time when most scathing criticism from US institutions - from Pentagon to CIA to US Congress and Congressional Committees - was being made and serious charges were being levelled on Pakistan in a mounting chorus, the standing committees of the Parliament were overlooking their responsibility. It said it was the Parliaments responsibility to oversee the countrys foreign and security policies. However, in keeping with its poor tradition of playing no role in a crisis or in influencing a policy, Parliament and its committees seem to be the most unaffected by the challenges faced by Pakistan, especially vis--vis the disquiet and mounting pressure in Pak-US relations. PILDAT says that on the other hand, committees in the US Congress, especially the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Appropriations Committee, have met after the September 13 Kabul incident with US Defence Secretary Leon E Panetta and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen testifying before the former. The Senate Appropriations Committee reportedly passed a bill making 'all US financial assistance to Pakistan privy to conditions of cooperation against the Haqqani network and other terror groups associated with al-Qaeda. A look at the dismal performance of the Parliamentary committees reveals that they have failed to even examine the serious issues confronting Pakistan. The National Assembly Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, chaired by the leader of ANP, Asfandyar Wali Khan, MNA, last met on June 6, 2011 just to undergo a call-on by the British Ambassador to Afghanistan. It is important to note that since its formation in 2008, the Committee has only met 17 times in 3 1/2 years, out of which the Chairman himself was not available to chair 10 meetings The Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, chaired by Senator Salim Saifullah, has not yet met after the current crisis and since its formation in May 2010 held 11 meetings The Parliamentary Committee on National Security, chaired by Senator Raza Rabbani held its last meeting on August 18, 2011. Since its formation in November 2008, the Committee met 35 times, with all meetings held in-camera The National Assembly Standing Committee on Defence, chaired by Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho, MNA, last met as a full committee on June 29, 2011 to discuss PNS Mehran attack, a month after the attack. The committee only met 27 times since its delayed formation in February 2009 after 2008 General Election The Senate Standing Committee on Defence & Defence Production, chaired by Senator Javed Ashraf, held its last meeting on August 01, 2011 on a matter relating to PIA. It held 26 meetings, 13 meetings on average per year, since its formation in July 2009. PILDAT demanded that these committees should immediately meet and start discussing the options of Pakistan. The committees should seek relevant expertise from across Pakistan. Parliament needs to take a lead on deciding Pakistans policy choices.