September 23, 2008	Tuesday	Ramazan 22, 1429

ISLAMABAD, Sept 22: In camera sittings of both houses of parliament on anti-terrorism policy are likely to be held after Eid.

Official sources said on Monday that Chief of the Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and other commanders would brief the parliamentarians about military operations in Swat and the tribal areas.

President Asif Ali Zardari had said in his address to parliament on Saturday: “For all stakeholders to have ownership of this policy, I will request the government to hold a national security briefing or an in camera joint session of parliament to let everyone have an opportunity to make an informal judgement about the risks to our beloved country and about how we should move forward with responsibility and clarity of vision.”

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani had also said that an in camera meeting could be arranged for lawmakers to brief them on the enormity of the situation in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas and Swat.

The Leader of the House in the Senate, Mian Raza Rabbani, told Dawn that it would be advisable to convene the houses of parliament after Eid because several leaders and officials, including the president and the COAS, were abroad and a number of lawmakers had gone for Umra.

He said sittings of both houses were due in October and it was up to the prime minister to summon the in camera meeting jointly or separately. He was of the opinion that it would be better to hold separate meetings.

PPP spokesman Farhatullah Babar said President Zardari had told government functionaries that such a briefing should be held at the earliest. He said it was for the government to decide the date.