March 29, 2003	Saturday	Muharram 25, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, March 28: The main opposition parties have formed a committee to talk to the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal on its decision to have Maulana Fazlur Rahman and Allama Shah Ahmed Noorani nominated leaders of opposition in the National Assembly and the Senate, respectively.

The committee comprises Mian Raza Rabbani (PPP), Ishaq Dar (PML-N), Asfandyar Wali Khan (ANP) and Sanaullah Baloch (Ponm).

The committee will also raise the question of the MMA holding separate meetings with the government on the contentious issue of the LFO as against an agreement that only the combined opposition will talk on the subject.

In the Senate, the MMA has 22 seats and the rest of opposition 21. The latter will not like to be ignored, and will want to bargain on appointment of deputy leader of the opposition in both the lower and upper houses of parliament.

Senator Farahatullah Babar, a spokesman for the PPP, told Dawn on Friday he hoped the leadership issue would be resolved through mutual understanding.

Senator Sanaullah Baloch of PONM said: “Our best effort is to keep the opposition united and strong by resolving all issues between us with consensus, and this matter will also be resolved in the same spirit.

Mian Raza Rabbani at the outset of the Senate session on Friday raised the question of change of seating arrangements required under rules of procedure. He was assured by the treasury benches that the matter would be resolved in consultation with the leader of the house, Mr Wasim Sajjad, and the leader of the opposition when that was decided.