ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Peoples Party has called for summoning a joint session of parliament to discuss the government’s decision to seek the army’s assistance in Islamabad under Article 245.

Talking to Dawn, Senator Raza Rabbani said the government should place before parliament the intelligence reports that forced it to invoke Article 245.

“If the government thinks sensitive information is involved, it can convene an in camera session.”

Mr Rabbani said invocation of Article 245 could have serious political repercussions because it would suspend the high court’s jurisdiction during the army’s stay in Islamabad and people would be unable to approach the court against violation of their fundamental rights.

The senator expressed fear that a parallel judicial system could also be put in place, recalling that military courts had been established in the past.

Know more: PPP will no longer be 'friendly opposition' in Parliament: Khurshid Shah

He said the government should explain why sections of the Pakistan Penal Code were not invoked, instead of Article 245.

Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Ahmad Shah termed invocation of Article 245 a blunder of the prime minister.

He told Dawn that neither parliament nor political parties were consulted before taking such a critical decision. An end of consultations with political forces on important issues would lead to chaos, he added.

Mr Shah said the prevailing political situation appeared to have made the government to behave in a confused manner.

He warned that the democratic system would be in jeopardy if dialogue with political forces was not urgently restarted.

The opposition leader made it clear that the PPP would no longer play the role of a friendly opposition in parliament.

Published in Dawn, August 3rd, 2014