ISLAMABAD, Nov 7: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali said on Friday he was not fully satisfied with the one-year performance of the two houses of parliament.

Talking to a group of newsmen at the parliament house, the prime minister said the negative attitude and approach of the opposition affected the over-all performance of the assembly during the first year.

“We have been successful in taking some good steps during this period despite disturbance and unruly attitude of the opposition,” he added.

The prime minister said people should analyze the attitude and role of the treasury and the opposition members and who really wanted to run the assembly and who was creating hurdles in the smooth functioning of parliament during its first year.

He said the performance of parliament must be assessed in totality as according to him, opposition impeded its functioning by continually trying to disrupt its proceedings, while the government tried its best to move forward.

The prime minister said the people and the media must analyze who was trying to run parliament in accordance with the Constitution and who was trying to sabotage these attempts. He urged the media to ponder over this question and write accordingly.

Replying to a question about the forthcoming Saarc summit to be held in Islamabad next year, he said: “We want it to be held on schedule and do not wish to see it delayed any more. We do not want any hurdle in the way of the summit.”

When asked to comment on Information Minister Sheikh Rashid’s visit to India to attend the Saarc information ministers conference and if he was carrying any message from him, Mr Jamali said: “Sheikh Rashid is a spokesman of the government and he himself is a message.”

In reply to a question about chances of resumption of the government-MMA talks, the prime minister said: “We have not closed the doors of dialogue with opposition and hope a breakthrough will be achieved when talks resume after the arrival of PML president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain.”

The prime minister, however, did not say as to when the PML chief was expected to return.

Commenting on reduction in telephone line rent and call rate announced by the PTCL, Mr Jamali said: “The government has tried to give a maximum relief to the people in the last one year and will continue to do so in future.”

He said Wapda would also provide suitable relief to the people probably next year.

Asked about federal minister Ahmed Ali’s resignation, Mr Jamali said he not approved it so far. There was a hope that a way could be found and a replacement would not be required.

Mr Jamali dismissed as incorrect the reports of alleged corruption charges against the minister, saying “it was an internal matter of his party (MQM) which will be looked into before taking a decision”. He said the minister had been asked to continue till a decision on his resignation was taken.

About expansion in the federal cabinet, the prime minister said the cabinet would be expanded in due course of time.