ISLAMABAD, Dec 30: Opposition parties have decided to mount pressure on the government to prevent what was termed systematic militarisation of the democratic system, following a crucial meeting on Friday.

The opposition deliberated upon various aspects of launching an anti-government campaign by focussing on national issues, including the Balochistan operation, price hike and foreign policy.

An insider, who declined to be identified, said opposition leaders unanimously called for forging unity in their ranks and expressed their determination to stop what they described as the mutilation of the face of democracy by launching a mass mobilisation campaign both inside and outside parliament.

Without clearly taking sides on Kalabagh dam, the meeting condemned the government for creating discord on construction of major water reservoirs without achieving an inter-provincial consensus on the issue.

The meeting decided to hold joint protest demonstration against the Balochistan operation outside the Parliament House on Monday (Jan 2).

The Press was not briefed after the meeting as many issues were either not discussed or the debate on them remained inconclusive.

The meeting was held at the residence of acting president the PML-N Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan. It was scheduled and rescheduled in last meeting of Dec 20 which rejected its participation in government’s parliamentary committee on earthquake.

The opposition decided to requisition the National Assembly session in the next two or three days to debate important current issues. It was signed by 144 MNAs.

The meeting was attended by Qazi Hussain Ahmed, Maulana Fazlur Rahman and Prof Sajid Mir of the MMA, Mian Raza Rabbani, Chaudhry Nisar and Ishaq Dar of the ARD and Imran Khan of the Pakistan Tehrik Insaaf.

Leaders of nationalist parties Asfandyar Wali Khan, Mehmud Khan Achakzai and Amanullah Kanrrani were unable to attend the meeting but were remained in touch and supported the discussions in the meeting, Chaudhry Nisar said. These leaders had attended previous meeting.

Makhdoom Amin Fahim, chairman of the ARD, could not attend the meeting because of a delay in his flight.

Talking to Dawn, Chaudhry Nisar said: “It was basically a strategic (in-camera) session which discussed all issues including the dangers stemming from the ongoing military operation in Balochistan, restoring the judiciary’s independence, setting up of an independent election commission and re-transformation of foreign policy.”

He said the combined opposition was convinced that it should forge a united alliance on one-point agenda but delayed a final decision to next meeting proposed to be held on Dec 17-18.

The meeting feared that efforts were being made to change the system either to the presidential system, or holding snap polls to rig them and achieve a two-third majority.

They, therefore, decided to keep in touch with each other and create a broad consensus on major national and international issues.

The opposition decided to table some important legislative bills in the lower house in the next session, including the judiciary’s independence and setting up of a neutral and independent election commission.