June 28, 2003	Saturday	Rabi-us-Sani 27,1424

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ISLAMABAD, June 27: The ruling party and its allies on Friday firmed up their strategy to counter the no-trust resolution moved by the opposition against the National Assembly speaker, and decided to abstain from voting.

The meeting, held at the prime minister secretariat, was addressed by Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali.

Those who attended the meeting were PML-Q president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, National Alliance’s chief Farooq Ahmad Khan Leghari, PML-J president Hamid Nasir Chatta, PPP-S chief Aftab Sherpao and PPP Patriots’ Rao Sikandar Iqbal.

No official was willing to disclose the exact number of MNAs who attended the meeting. They all insisted that a “large number” of them were present.

Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad said that “almost” all the MNAs attended the meeting, and advised this correspondent to keep an eye on the opposition. “They have moved the resolution, and the onus is on them to bring 172 members.”

He said the ruling party MNAs would remain in the house, but would not take part in the vote. The parliamentary party meeting would be held at 9.30am in which the ruling party members would be briefed about the final strategy.

“We will see how things shape on Saturday, and decide accordingly,” the minister added.

An insider told Dawn that at least three MNAs proposed that the ruling party should take part in the secret ballot as the decision to abstain “would be exploited by the opposition.”