All-party meet on July 9

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JUNE 21. The Centre today decided to convene an all- party meeting on July 9 ahead of the proposed visit by the Pakistan President, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, here from July 14 to 16.

At the meeting, to be presided by the Prime Minister, Mr. A.B. Vajpayee, the Government is expected to brief the leaders of both the Opposition parties and the allies on the thinking behind the invitation to the Pakistani leader and what the Government hopes to achieve during the summit.

The Opposition parties had demanded such a meeting as they wanted to be taken into confidence on such an important matter and the Prime Minister recently indicated he would meet them ahead of the summit.

Today's announcement was welcomed by the party leaders across the political spectrum.

There is the realisation in the Government that for a successful India-Pakistan dialogue on some of the difficult issues there will be a need to evolve a national consensus. Announcing the decision, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Mr. Pramod Mahajan, said the meeting would be held at the Prime Minister's 7, Race Course Road residence at 11 a.m. on July 9. Party leaders from both Houses of Parliament would be invited.

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