ISLAMABAD, Oct 21: The joint session of the two houses of parliament on Tuesday formed a 16-member bipartisan parliamentary committee to draft a resolution on the war on terror, reflecting the briefings given to legislators and the debate during the in-camera proceedings.

The resolution is expected to be passed ‘unanimously’ on the last day of the joint session. The prime minister, sources said, was expected to wind up the debate on Thursday.

The committee, which has been given 24 hours to complete the task, held a meeting at the Parliament House and was busy preparing the draft till late in the night.Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani proposed the committee by moving a motion.

All parliamentary groups in the Senate and the National Assembly have been given representation in the committee, to be headed by Information Minister Sherry Rehman. Some of the other members are: Leader of the House in Senate Mian Raza Rabbani, Wasim Sajjad, Haider Abbas Rizvi, Babar Awan, Abdur Rahim Mandokhel, Anisa Zeb Tahirkheli, Munir Orakzai, Pervez Khan, Prof Khurshid Ahmed, Maulana Samiul Haq, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Justice (retd) Abdur Razzaq Thaheem and Iqbal Zafar Jhagra.

The house advisory committee had, on the first day of the session, decided to set up the committee. It would hold meetings on a daily basis, prepare recommendations and present them on the conclusion of the session to help parliament frame a national policy on the war on terror.

Speaking briefly on the motion, the prime minister appealed to all opposition parliamentary groups to join hands for forging a consensus on the war on terror.

He said the government alone cannot combat terrorism and militancy, seeking the cooperation of the opposition in the “gigantic task”.

Mr Gilani said the government needed help from all segments of society in the fight against elements challenging the writ of the state. He also called upon lawyers to end their protest and help the government restore law and order.

Senator Haji Mohammad Adeel, Parliamentary Leader of the ANP, said that a “lack of seriousness” in the Swat operation had strengthened militants. He alleged that during the curfew, security forces and police disappear from roads, leaving miscreants and militants to kill and plunder with impunity.

“If the government is serious in its efforts to eradicate extremism and militancy, it should ensure that its orders given to security forces are implemented in letter and in spirit.

“We have tried the options of dialogue and reached accords with militants of Swat, but all our peace efforts have been sabotaged by the elements inimical to peace,” the senator said.

The government wants the

resolution to endorse its security strategy. The PML-N has indicated that it will support a policy that is based on national consensus, while the JUI-F has proposed a change in the existing policy on war on terror.

Various opposition and coalition parties have also been working separately to come up with their own resolutions.

The PML-Q kicked off its consultations with parliamentary groups on Tuesday to muster their support for a resolution it has drafted keeping in view the overall mood of the joint sitting.

An official handout issued by the speaker’s secretariat said: “In-camera joint sitting of parliament continued discussion on law and order and security in the country today. Members from all political parties in the Senate and the National Assembly participated in the discussion.

“The session continued for three-and-a-half hours. The sitting was adjourned till 3pm on Wednesday.”