Evolving new strategies: Nawaz to meet party MPs ahead of NA session

PPO, energy crisis, economic challenges and Musharraf trial are on the agenda.

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has convened a meeting of PML-N’s  parliamentary party on Monday to evolve a strategy for the upcoming session of the National Assembly which will start the same day.

The meeting, which will be held in the Parliament House at 11am, will deliberate on how to tackle questions on security issues, economic challenges, energy crisis and the trial of former president Pervez Musharraf.

PML-N lawmakers will also discuss how to get the Pakistan Protection Bill 2013 passed from the lower house. The bill has already been cleared by the Standing Committee on Interior amid strong reservations expressed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf  and Muttahida Qaumi Movement over some of its clauses.



Confirming Monday’s meeting, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab said, “Yes, the prime minister has convened the meeting to evolve a strategy for handling key issues,” Sheikh Aftab, the chief whip of the PML-N, said. He, however, did not share as to what will be the main agenda item of the meeting.

Sources said that the prime minister will discuss a possible military operation in North Waziristan Agency and the strategy to take other parties on board in this regard.

Premier Nawaz, who is facing stiff criticism for ignoring parliamentary sessions, as compared to his predecessors – Yousuf Raza Gilani and Raja Pervaiz Ashraf – has now made up his mind to be punctual in NA sessions, sources said.

At the same time, the prime minister will also issue directives to party members, particularly the ministers, to ensure their presence in the house, maintain the quorum and respond to questions.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 25^th, 2014.