November 10, 2003	Monday	Ramazan 14, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, Nov 9: A crucial meeting of all opposition parliamentary groups in the National Assembly to be held here at 9pm on Monday will ponder over requisitioning of the assembly session as soon as it is prorogued, most likely on Tuesday next, sources told Dawn.

The opposition will also chalk out a joint strategy to accelerate its campaign against the regime for the acceptance of its demands regarding the Legal Framework Order and release of Javed Hashmi.

The issue of military operation against tribesmen will also be discussed at the meeting as the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) will push for a unanimous stand against it, said the sources.

The PML-N, which is hosting the meeting, is said be interested in seeking the wholehearted support of all opposition parties in its upcoming drive for the release of Javed Hashmi in Punjab and elsewhere.

The MMA, the sources said, would also pursue the opposition to make a unified demand for the arrest of the murderers of (banned Sipah-i-Sahaba chief) MNA Azam Tariq and also to include the demand in its overall protest campaign.

Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, convener of the opposition parliamentary meeting, told Dawn on Sunday that the basic purpose of the meeting was to evolve a consensus among opposition parties on the future course of action inside and outside parliament.

This meeting will be attended by PPP’s Makhdoom Amin Fahim and Raja Pervez Ashraf; PML-N’s Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Maimoona Hashmi and Siddiqul Farooq from PML(N); PONM’s Mehmud Achakzai, Abdur Rauf Mengal and others; PTI chief Imran Khan and possibly a representative from the JWP.

MMA parliamentary leader Qazi Hussain and his deputy Hafiz Hussain Ahmed will represent the religious alliance on the occasion.

Chaudhry Nisar said that all the parties had confirmed their participation in the meeting, except the JWP which had some problem in reaching the capital.

He said the meeting would consider various ways and means to enhance pressure on the government to accept its demands.