November 04, 2008	Tuesday	Ziqa'ad 5, 1429

ISLAMABAD, Nov 3: The formation of a powerful parliamentary committee on terrorism will be completed on Nov 6 or 7 to monitor implementation on the resolution passed by the parliament during its in-camera sitting, Dawn learnt on Monday.

Sources said that it had been decided by all parliamentary parties that the committee would be formed in the current week, but they could not reach consensus on a name for heading the committee.

At a meeting of parliamentary leaders in the Senate and the National Assembly in the parliament building on Monday, Speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza was informed about some parties’ representation in the committee.

Sources said the Pakistan Muslim League (N) and the Pakistan Muslim League (Q) opposed a proposal floated by the Awam National Party and some small political parties to make Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani head of the committee.

The opposition parties said that the head of the committee should be from the opposition.

The ANP and some small parties suggested to the speaker that the head of the committee should be from the ruling Pakistan People’s Party so that its decisions could be implemented without hindrance.

Most of the parties agreed to a proposal that all parties should have an equal representation.

The ANP and some parties from Balochistan said small parties from the two smaller provinces should not be ignored.

The meeting decided that the size of the committee should be small and in this connection the pattern of Senate and National Assembly standing committees could be followed, which usually consist of 19 members.

The opposition parties have been pressing for a powerful committee to review the implementation of the resolution adopted at the joint session.

Those who attended the meeting were: Senator Mian Raza Rabbani, Kamil Ali Agha, Israr Ullah Zehri, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat, Munir Khan Oarakzai, Haji Ghulam Ahmed Bilour and Mehmood Abbas.The committee will again meet on Tuesday.