ISLAMABAD - The debate on Swat operation continued in the National Assembly for the third consecutive day Wednesday and the treasury benches, except JUI-F, sanctioned the military offensive against Taliban while the Opposition kept on criticising the government for not taking the Parliament into confidence before launching the action. Participating in the debate, Shahnaz Wazir Ali said that it was need of the hour that all political forces should be united as the country was fighting war against terrorism. If the operation is halted before reaching its logical end, it would prove disastrous, she stated while adding, MNAs present in the National Assembly feared that Taliban could have sneaked into other parts of the country if the operation had not been launched against them. She said that a conspiracy was being hatched against Pakistan as non-patriotic elements were out to destabilise the country 'but they cannot succeed in their nefarious designs. PML-N MNA Saad Rafiq slammed the government for not taking the Parliament into confidence over the issue of military operation. The practice of not taking the Parliament into confidence is undemocratic. It was better if the decision would have been made by the Parliament, he said. He also criticised the foreign countries in this regard and said, Some western countries are asking Sri Lanka to stop operation against Tamil Tigers and why were they forcing Pakistan to take military action against Taliban? He also urged the government should to hold talks with Taliban again and convince them to shun violence and militancy. He further said that the rulers should not ridicule the nation. Innocent people are the victims in the operation. Pakistan must be freed from the clutches of the western powers that want to destabilise the country, he added. Commenting on Nizam-e-Adl Regulation, Saad Rafiq said that Nizam-e-Adl Regulation was prepared in haste and the entire political leadership of the country approved it just for peace in Swat and Malakand areas. Kashmala Tariq said that both the government and opposition were befooling the masses, as the Parliament had no powers and all decisions were being made outside. Parliament was powerless during Musharrafs regime and even today it is the same, She stated. She also said that the millions of rupees were being spent on beautification of the Parliament Lodges and suggested that all those funds should be spent on the people affected by the operation. She also asked the government to fix a timeframe for the operation, which should not be prolonged. She also criticised the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Pak-Afghan Transit Trade in the US, questioning why was it not signed in Pakistan and discussed in the parliament before finalisation? She appreciated the active role of media in creating awareness among the masses on the issue and mobilising them for helping the IDPs. PML-N MNA Barjees Tahir said that time had come to review the performance of the intelligence agencies. He said that until and unless dictators were punished, the country would not move ahead. He said that the wrong polices of the dictators had put the country into great trouble. Every effort should be made for looking after and rehabilitation of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), he stated. Sardar Bahadar Ahmed Khan Sihar while speaking on the occasion urged the government to take immediate steps for the rehabilitation of the IDPs. He also urged for evolving a policy with national consensus to resolve the issue of militancy successfully. Kishwar Zehra criticised the actions of Taliban and termed them un-Islamic while supporting the operation. Begum Nasim Akhtar Chaudhry appreciated the steps taken by the government to eliminate militancy and terrorism from the country. She said that the government promulgated Nizam-e-Adl Regulation in Swat for the restoration of peace but unfortunately the other party did not honour the agreement and the government was forced to launch army operation there for the security of the innocent people. Bushra Gohar, an MNA of ANP urged that all should support army operation to get the required results. She said that the government had taken concrete steps to accommodate the IDPs at the relief camps. Rana Tanweer Hussain of PML-N was of the view that an effective strategy should be evolved to tackle the situation in Swat and Malakand. He alleged that the United States was responsible for the worsening the law and order situation in the country. He urged the government to adopt a national policy for resolving all problems, including the issue of FATA and Balcohistan. Rana Tanveer said the government should have taken the Parliament into confidence before launching the military operation. While criticising the military operation, he expressed reservation about its success, saying, It will not help achieve the required results due to ill-planning. He also stressed for a strategy to mitigate the sufferings of the IDPs on war-footings. Sher Muhammad Baloch said that PPP, being a party that believes in federation, was working for promotion of unity and harmony among all segments of the society to face the present challenges successfully. He lauded the role of the President and the Prime Minister for resolving the national issues through reconciliation. Baloch condemned the activities of the terrorists and supported the action against them in Swat region. Taliban are defaming the names of Islam and Pakistan among the community of the nations by carrying out subversive activities, he added. Maulana Muhammad Qasim welcomed the steps taken by the government for the IDPs and said more efforts were needed to minimise their miseries. He said that dialogue process should be initiated again to address the problem. Shahzada Mohi-ud-Din said the militants in Swat were dodging the government after signing the peace deal despite the fact that the government had implemented Nizam-e-Adl. He said after violating the accord, there was no option except army operation to wipe out terrorists. Mohi-ud-din also criticised JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman for opposing the Swat operation saying, He is the one who stated in the House that the militants had reached near Islamabad and Margalla Hills are the only impediment. He also asked the government to probe who was providing arms and funds to the militants. Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan informed the National Assembly that taxes levied on petroleum products were unreasonable which had not benefited the country. Responding to points of order in the House, the minister said there was need of rationalisation of the prices of petroleum products. He said he would convey the consensus of the House to the Prime Minister on the issue of petroleum prices. The minister also said that all laws implemented during the previous regime, including formation of various authorities to regulate oil, gas and electricity prices were anti-people and the government would look into this legislation to make it pro-people. Earlier, Leader of the Opposition Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had urged the government to bring the petroleum and gas prices down saying that it was an extra burden over the poor masses. He said that the government should fulfil its responsibility as the Supreme Court had also given its orders in this regard. Endorsing the point of order, Marvi Memon also raised the same issue and asked the government whether it had any plan to reduce oil prices, as per the apex courts orders, or not. Responding to another objection of the Opposition Leader over the absence of the ministers from the proceedings, Babar Awan said he would write to Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani about the matter. This is draft letter in my hand. I am writing to Prime Minister about the non-seriousness of the ministers. Everyone will have to fulfil his responsibility, the minister added.