27 January 2005	Thursday	16 Zilhaj 1425

ISLAMABAD, Jan 26: Opposition leader in the Senate Mian Raza Rabbani on Wednesday called on MMA's Senator Prof Khurshid Ahmed and discussed with him the strategy to be adopted by the opposition parties in the Senate session being started from February 2.

People's Party Parliamentarians' Farooq H Naek and Balochistan National Party's Senator Sanaullah Baloch were also present in the meeting. The opposition senators agreed to raise the issue of Balochistan in the Senate session with full force. They also discussed the prevailing political scenario in the country and expressed their concern over the deteriorating law and order situation.

They stressed the need for finding a political solution to the issue of Balochistan instead of military operation. They were of the view that the military operation could not substitute the process of political dialogue in resolving any crisis.

They said the Senate represented the federation of Pakistan and if any federating unit felt aggrieved, then it was the constitutional responsibility of this House to take up the issue, therefore, the issue of Balochistan would dominate the Senate session.

It was also agreed that the Democratic Alliance and the MMA would hold their respective parliamentary meetings and a joint meeting of the combined opposition would also be held on the evening of February 2 before the start of Senate session.

Mr Rabbani also assured the MMA leadership that it would be the endeavour of the Democratic Alliance to carry the entire opposition in the Senate so that an effective check could be kept on the government.