ISLAMABAD, Nov 9: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali said on Sunday the opposition was not playing its due role in running parliament on proper lines, but hastened to add that the democratic system was not facing any threat because of the legislators’ performance.

Talking to reporters after attending a function to commemorate the birth anniversary of poet-philosopher Allama Iqbal at a local hotel, the prime minister said he was not pleased with the reporting of his press conference in which he was quoted to have said that he was not happy with the performance of parliament.

“You report one portion, but ignore the other,” he remarked rather sulkily, adding that when he had said that parliament was not performing in keeping with the expectations, he was saying that one part of parliament, the opposition, was not playing its due role.

He, however, said that the democratic system was in no danger because of the unsatisfactory performance of parliament.

Asked if President Gen Musharraf would address the joint sitting of parliament as required under the Constitution, the prime minister said: “Be patient.”

Mr Jamali said he was in contact with the MMA leadership on constitutional matters, and had talked recently with Qazi Hussain Ahmad and Liaquat Baloch.

Responding to a question in which he was asked for an “update on the arrest of Javed Hashmi,” the prime minister replied: “Javed Hashmi is in Islamabad.”

Earlier, speaking at the Allama Iqbal function, the prime minister said “we Pakistanis do not learn from history.”

He said Allama Iqbal was not just a person, but an institution.

“Our young generation, especially those studying in English-medium schools, are oblivious of their national language, Urdu.”

He wondered as to how those unable to read or write Urdu could read and understand Allama Iqbal’s poetry and imbibe his message.

The prime minister said that being a Baloch, he could understand Persian a little, and during a recent visit to Iran, he came to know that Allama Iqbal was more revered in Iran than here.

He said Allama Iqbal always advocated moderation and he never broached war in his poetry. He said the poet gave us to understand that through education, we could progress by leaps and bounds, but we could not act upon his advice.

Had we understood and acted upon Allama Iqbal’s teachings, we would have advanced significantly, the prime minister said.

National Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain, as patron of a newly-created Iqbal Forum, supported the idea of constructing an Iqbal Memorial in Islamabad.

MEETING:Meanwhile, the meeting of parliamentary party of Pakistan Muslim League and its allies will be held at 2.00pm on Monday at Parliament House before the National Assembly goes in session, adds APP.