ISLAMABAD, Dec 8: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Thursday made a request to opposition leaders to come back early with their stand on the government’s response to the Terms of Reference proposed by the opposition for the functioning of parliamentary panel on rehabilitation and reconstruction of quake-hit areas.
The prime minister told opposition leaders that the government was sincere in its intention of taking the opposition parties along in making the process of rehabilitation and rebuilding transparent.
He said the government’s seriousness was evident from the fact that it had responded to the proposals made by the opposition in writing.
Mr Aziz held an informal meeting with chairman of ARD and president of PPP Parliamentarians Makhdoom Amin Fahim and deputy secretary-general of MMA Liaquat Baloch on the floor of the National Assembly.
The government had given its reply to the proposals drawn up by opposition through letters sent out to all the nine members of the panel from opposition side.
On being quizzed by newsmen outside the NA hall, Mr Fahim said leaders of the combined opposition were in the process of consultation and will meet in the next couple of days to firm up a unified stand on the issue.
Replying to a question, he said as long as leaders “have not got together” to exchange views on the government’s reply, he would not like to comment on any aspect of the issue.
On the government’s assertion that more than 90 per cent of opposition’s proposals had been accepted, he said regardless of the claim the opposition will give its response after consultation.
He said the prime minister had asked him to discuss the construction of reservoirs, including the Kalabagh dam, but “my party’s stand is clear that no dam should be constructed unless all the provinces agree on it”.
Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan of PML-N said the entire frontline leadership will take a decision about opposition’s response.
