LAHORE, Oct 10: Members of parliament, especially those belonging to various opposition parties, have expressed their dissatisfaction over the briefing given to them on the security situation during an in-camera joint session of the two houses.

They say they have not been told anything new and what was ‘disclosed’ during the session was what was already in their knowledge. Many claim that the briefing was superficial and they were told only what they had been reading in newspapers or hearing through the electronic media.

The PML-N legislators, as a mark of protest, did not ask any questions.

They may have reasons to do so, but it would have been better if they had asked all the questions in their minds.

If one question asked by one lawmaker was not answered, someone else should have shot another. And if that also remained unanswered, yet somebody else should have asked whatever was on his mind.

And when a number of questions were not answered, the MPs should have held a news conference and let the nation know the importance of those questions. This was the best way to expose the ‘usefulness’ of the joint session.

For example, if the elected representatives were not told the terms of engagement agreed upon between former president Pervez Musharraf and the United States, they should tell the media about it.

Likewise, if the government was unwilling to tell why it was not retaliating when the US drones dropped missiles and killed innocent people, the lawmakers should bring the matter to people’s court.

Maybe, the embarrassment caused through a news conference forces the government to change its policy.

True the government cannot share every information with the parliament because of its sensitivity. But this doesn’t mean that the elected representatives should not be told anything. If un-elected people like Rehman Malik, prime minister’s adviser on interior affairs, and Shaukat Tareen, the new adviser on finance, may be trusted, there should no reason why those chosen by the people and who are also under oath not to disclose any sensitive information should not be taken into confidence.

If the legislators are not given complete information, it would not be fair to expect any input from them.

Many people say that the situation is so grim that only collective efforts made by the treasury and the opposition can control it. It can’t be left only to a few people at the helm – most of whom have no previous experience of dealing with such difficult situations.

It will be better if an all-party conference is held at the earliest to discuss the situation and work out a strategy to deal with extremists and militants. Leaders like former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, Chaudhry Shujaat Husain, ex-interior minister Aftab Sherpao, former army chiefs and heads of intelligence agencies should be invited to the proposed moot. They should come up with ideas to control the situation.

This is high time that all parties should get united against to stamp out the menace, or more difficult times are in store for the country after the Nov 4 presidential election in the United States.

Views expressed by both presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain about the situation in Pakistan should open the eyes of leaders as well as the nation.