ISLAMABAD: In a bid to evolve consensus on national counter-terrorism strategy, the Pakistan government has at last decided to convene a multi-party conference on September 9, DawnNews reported.

Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan Thursday night contacted all key political leaders of the country and officially invited them to attend the important meeting.

PTI chief Imran Khan, Opposition Leader in NA Syed Khurshid Shah of PPP, MQM’s Dr Farooq Sattar, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Mehmood Khan Achakzai of PKMAP, JI chief Syed Munawar Hassan, Mir Hasil Bazinjo and Allama Sajid Mir were among those who were invited by the interior minister.

The moot was initially scheduled to take place on July 12. However, it was delayed because the government wanted to further fine tune the draft of its national security and counter-terrorism policy before tabling it at the conference.

The political leadership of Pakistan is expected to decide in the meeting whether to negotiate with Taliban militants or to use force to eradicate the menace of terrorism facing the country.

Speaking to a press conference on July 4, Chaudhry Nisar said Army Chief Gen Ashfaq Pervez Kayani and DG ISI Lt-Gen Zaheerul Islam would brief the party heads on security situation in different parts of the country in the conference, officially called by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif earlier on the same date.

The minister said recommendations of political leaders would be used in formulating the security policy. “It is a complicated task and can take some time. After finalisation the draft policy will be presented in the parliament for approval.”

Other political parties including ANP, JUI-F and former ruling PPP had also convened all parties conferences in the past over the same issue.

On Sept 30, 2011, then prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani had managed to get heads of all political parties as well as the entire top military leadership under one roof.