September 23, 2008	Tuesday	Ramazan 22, 1429

LAHORE, Sept 22: The government instead of issuing contradictory statements on the Marriott blast should have called a meeting of the parliament to discuss the issue of war on terror and prepare a strategy to counter such acts of terrorism.

PML-Q president Ch Shujaat Husain and secretary-general Syed Mushahid Husain demanded this while addressing a joint press conference here on Monday.

They said press statements would hardly make up for such a huge security breach.

Given its magnitude and sensitivity, they said no party alone could deal with the issue of terrorism. The Marriott blast had proven incapability of the security agencies in the most sensitive part of the country. To make the matters worse, they said adviser on interior Rahman Malik, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and President Asif Zardari were issuing press statements, contradicting each other.

They regretted that the dumper remained on fire for five or so minutes in front of the hotel, but no one controlled the situation. It was a bad gift for a day when the president addressed the parliament, they said.

“War has arrived at the heart of the country and no party alone can deal with it. The government must get all parties on board to evolve a national strategy, develop a special task force to launch anti-terrorism operations instead of using police and put spy agencies on terrorism prevention instead of tapping telephones of politicians and journalists,” Mushahid said.

The chief of army staff had briefed all politicians on security issues on April 3 and July 23, but the government was yet to come up with any anti-terrorism policy, he said.

Accusing the Punjab government of resorting to political victimisation, Shujaat said such tactics would not pay anyone. The provincial rulers had not learnt anything during the eight years of their exile and they had returned to start from where they left off.

He said over 90 per cent of party workers, who were arrested in Gujrat, were still to be formally charged. The provincial government should concentrate on solving problems of people instead of starting a witch hunting campaign against political opponents, he advised.

PTI: The Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf has demanded convening an all parties conference for review of war on terror policy.

PTI Vice-President Ejaz Ahmad Chaudhry told a press conference here on Monday that the present government had retained the policy formulated by the Musharraf regime.

“The policy has not only proved a failure but is also against the national aspirations. The parliament has never bothered to discuss the policy which has resulted in spreading terrorism in tribal areas and suicide bombings in Lahore and Islamabad.”

The destruction of Marriott hotel, he said, was the result of a serious security lapse but the advisor on interior had refused to accept the responsibility.

He said the government should convene an all parties conference for evolving a national consensus on war on terror and prevention of increasing foreign military intervention in tribal areas. Diplomatic contacts should be increased with China, Russia, Iran, France and Germany to counter the growing US pressure, he suggested.