ISLAMABAD: The opposition parliamentarians were back in the news on Monday as they held a meeting with the National Assembly Speaker at night to discuss the current political situation and specifically the resignations submitted by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf MNAs.

The meeting which went on for a couple of hours ended around one at night. It was attended by Maulana Fazlur Rehman (JUI-F), Aftab Ahmad Sherpao (QWP), Mehmood Khan Achakzai (PkMAP), Ghulam Ahmad Bilour (ANP), G.G. Jamal (Independent), Khursheed Ahmed Shah (PPP) and Kalsoom Parveen (BNP-Awami). The government was represented by federal ministers Khawaja Asif, retired Lt Gen Abdul Qadir Baloch and Akram Durrani.

The government representatives briefed the opposition about the talks with the PTI.

According to the press release disseminated after the meeting, Leader of Opposition Khursheed Shah said the speaker had assured the parliamentary leaders that he would follow the rules and due process in the case of the submitted resignations.

It is noteworthy that earlier the speaker had told Dawn that it would take him around two weeks to go through the resignations and ensure that it was genuine and reflected the parliamentarian’s personal choice.

Mr Shah also said the participants of the meeting and the speaker agreed to continue the session of the National Assembly. He added that it had also been decided to call a session of the Senate.

The government ministers brought the opposition leaders up to date on the talks with the PTI and Pakistan Awami Tehreek. They told the parliamentarians that the government was not willing to accept the demand for resignation of the prime minister, as has been demanded by the PTI. It was however willing to accept the other demands.

Mr Shah said he too agreed that the demand for prime minister’s resignation was not acceptable.

Published in Dawn, August 26th, 2014