RAWALPINDI, Oct 20: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Wednesday said the three-member cabinet committee formed by the speaker of the National Assembly would soon hold talks with the opposition.

Speaking to newsmen here, he expressed the hope that the opposition would take part in the remaining sessions of the ongoing parliamentary year, which will end in a week.

Sheikh Rashid said he was hopeful that the opposition would show better sense in the prevailing political situation. The country, he said, was at a crossroads and politicians should demonstrate maturity.

He said doors of negotiations were never closed in politics, but the government had to see what kind of agenda they (opposition) would follow.

The minister urged the opposition not to look towards foreign diplomats in political matters and work with a sense of national responsibility.

The opposition, he said, had got the mandate in the name of 'Nizam-i-Mustafa', but now was raising a hue and cry over the uniform issue and resorting to unfair political tactics.

The minister dismissed as baseless reports about the presence of Osama bin Laden or Mullah Omar in Pakistan.

He said Pakistan would continue to remain an important player in the region irrespective of who won the US presidential elections.

Earlier, speaking at an Iftar party at Mohanpura, he held out assurance that the government was taking steps to resolve the problems of the people. Many development schemes would be undertaken in the area to provide basic facilities to the people, he added.-APP