September 13, 2008	Saturday	Ramazan 12, 1429

ISLAMABAD, Sept 12: Chief of the Pakistan Muslim League-Q Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and secretary-general Senator Mushahid Hussain on Friday condemned US attacks in tribal areas and urged president Asif Ali Zardari to immediately summon a joint session of parliament to frame a national strategy to defend the country.

Talking to media personnel at a dinner he hosted for the ambassador of China in Islamabad and a Chinese media team, the PML-Q chief said all political parties, even if they are not represented in parliament, should be consulted on the grave national issue.

Chaudhry Shujaat did not rule out his party’s support for Nawaz Sharif and said that they would look into every option.

He said: “Right now, both the parties (PML-N and PPP) have contacted us. A decision will be taken depending on circumstances.”

About the possibility of his party reunifying with the PML-N, Chaudhry Shujaat said: “This is an option …We are in contact with both parties … A final decision will be taken in consultation with members of the party.” He told a questioner that his party had not been contacted by the ruling coalition on the proposed constitutional amendment package and he would give his opinion only after the package had been received.

Reiterating his party’s commitment to play the role of a positive opposition, Chaudhry Shujaat said it would cooperate for the adoption of a consensus bill.

Mushahid Hussain said that a four-member PML-Q team including Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, himself, Amir Muqam and Ghaus Bakhsh Maher would begin a four-day visit to China on Sunday at the invitation of the Communist Party of China where they would also participate in the concluding ceremony of the Paralympics.

He urged the new president to visit to China to reemphasise the country’s deep relationship with the Chinese people.

About frequent US incursions into Pakistan territory, he said: “We have condemned it and we have urged President Asif Ali Zardari to convene a joint meeting of parliament.”