October 20, 2008	Monday	Shawwal 20, 1429

ISLAMABAD, Oct 19: The joint in-camera session of parliament will resume at 2 p.m. on Monday.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, who is consulting coalition partners JUI-F and ANP on a consensus resolution, is expected to wind up the debate by explaining his government’s policy on the war on terrorism.

The debate has divided lawmakers on the issue:: One group wants a total change in the national security policy while the other would like to maintain the existing policy that was chalked out by former president Pervez Musharraf.

The government is trying to persuade JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman to soften his stand, but during a speech on Thursday the Maulana declared that he could become an intermediary if the government was sincere in entering into a dialogue with militants.

JUI-F’s information secretary Maulana Amjad Khan told the media on Sunday that his party was playing its due role in bringing peace, particularly in the NWFP.

He reiterated that Maulana Fazlur Rehman could become a mediator between the government and the Taliban, adding that the government’s attitude indicated that it was ready to change national foreign policy.

The JUI-F, he said, had decided to launch a public awareness campaign about the gravity of the situation, adding that rallies would be held at divisional level, which would be addressed by national level leadership of the party.