MPs unhappy over scant security briefing

ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani would take the Parliament into confidence on elements of Pak-US cooperation in war on terror when the in-camera joint session resumes on Monday.

Well-placed sources told TheNation Thursday that the Prime Minister had agreed to brief the joint sitting of the Parliament after the PML-N and other Opposition parties conveyed their dissatisfaction with what was said to be stereotyped briefing on security issues.

“There is hardly anything new that had come to light during the two days of in-camera briefing. We wish to know as to how America was authorised to carry out military operations into Pakistan territory. Likewise there has been no information about sources of financial support and weapons and ammunition of the terrorists,” a number of PML-N and FATA members of Parliament commented.

It was further learnt that the Prime Minister might allow in-camera debate or assign his Advisor on Interior Rehman Malik to brief the Mmembers to their satisfaction so that a consensus could be evolved to tackle the challenging issue of terrorism.

According to the official sources, the session continued for four hours and 20 minutes and the Parliamentary Leaders of all political parties participated in the question-answer session.

The Director General (Military Operations) answered the questions of the parliamentarians. The joint session was adjourned till 1100 hours Monday (October 13).

After the briefing and question-answer session, the committee of both the Houses converted into a Joint Sitting of the Parliament in accordance with Wednesday’s resolution.

The Prime Minister and Chief of the Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani remained present during the whole session Thursday.