Pakistan has been involved in the war against terror as part of the US led international coalition since 9/11 and in the process has suffered more and gained very little. The War On Terror commenced during the military regime of the former dictator Musharraf and is continuing against the militants even today when there is a civilian government headed by President Zardari and PM Gilani. Quite obviously, the War On Terror and the killing of a large number of civilians as well as the armed forces and security personnel in increasing number due to the suicide attacks in different parts of the country has given rise to many security concerns.  It has created a situation in which national security and solidarity is on stake which has raised a number of questions in the minds of the people and their elected representatives at the national and provincial levels. To deliberate on the security situation in all pros and cons and to apprise the peoples representatives about the ground realities, an in-camera session of the Parliament was organised. Much ground has been covered and more is in the process of being covered as after the briefings by the government side, it is now the turn of the parliamentarians to speak out their minds and put forth feasible suggestions and proposals for fighting the militants and inorder to evolve a commonly agreed strategy to overcome the security concerns and preserve integrity at all costs and under all circumstances. In all fairness, holding of an in-camera session to address the security concerns and to take the parliamentarians into confidence was a right and positive step as both the president and PM have been emphatically stating time and again that the Parliament is the supreme body and all important decisions will be taken after the parliamentarians are taken into confidence. But the spirit of holding of an in-camera session of the Parliament to deliberate on rather sensitive issues is seemingly violated by some quarters by raising quite unreasonable questions and leaking out the proceedings to the print and electronic media. During the in-camera session, the government's point of view has been put forth by a number of federal ministers and other concerned top brass of the civilian and armed forces set-ups. And, this was strictly in accordance with the well-established parliamentary practices and traditions though the civilians had least opportunity as compared to the military dictators to rule the country. Any federal minister during the session can stand up and put forth the government's point of view on a particular issue and make a policy statement if the ministers concerned are not there somehow. It is also an established fact that in any federal government, irrespective of the gender, the minister in-charge of the Information and Broadcasting portfolio is considered as the official spokesman and fully authorised to put forth the government's point of view on behalf of any other Cabinet member in his absence. So, if Information Minister Ms Rahman took up the floor the other day to answer queries from the parliamentarians, she did not do any wrong. As a matter of fact by shouldering the onerous responsibility, she duly compensated for the absence of the defence minister, foreign ministers and the advisor to the PM on Interior Affairs, who are accompanying Zardari on his maiden official visit to China. She represented the government with full responsibility as a Minister who knew well as to what she was saying and what she must have stated under the prevailing circumstances. And, it was a sheer coincidence that the religious scholars of different schools of thoughts held a meeting in Lahore just when the Parliament was holding an in-camera session about the security concerns and came out with virtually a unanimous view that Islam strictly prohibits committing suicide and as such launching suicide attacks and killing innocent people in every strike is prohibited. The ulema should have come out with their views regarding suicide attacks early. But still, better late than never. The religious scholars would do a lot of service to the religion, country and the nation if they visit the troubled tribal areas in FATA and NWFP and tell the tribesmen the same in a much elaborate and convincing manner directly. The federal and the provincial government should facilitate the visit of the religious scholars and ulema of all schools of thoughts to the troubled areas despite the security threats and concerns to do the needful there. Their direct interaction with the tribesmen and in particular with the elders in the troubled areas would certainly prove quite productive as they need to be taught and explained about Islam and its teachings in the light of the Holy Quran. The earlier it is done, the better it would be for everyone. The writer is a freelance columnist