ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday called for a joint session of parliament to consider whether to join the Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen.

For six days, a Saudi-led coalition has bombed Iran-allied Houthi fighters and army units fighting against Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi.

“Given the close historical cultural and religious affinities between the peoples of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, it was reaffirmed that any isolation of Saudi Arabia’s territorial integrity will evoke a strong response from Pakistan,” the prime minister’s office said in a statement.

The prime minister emphasized that all decisions in the matter will be taken in accordance with the wishes of the people of Pakistan. To this end, the prime minister is advising the president to convene a joint session of Parliament on Monday to discuss this matter of national importance.”

The statement came after Sharif was briefed by a high-level defense delegation that returned from Saudi on Wednesday.

He is expected to go to Turkey on Friday to discuss the situation in Yemen, a government official said.

A senior Pakistani government official told Reuters on Monday that Islamabad would send troops to Saudi Arabia to provide military support to the coalition. But later Defense Minister Khawaja Asif denied any decision had been made.

Foreign Office spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam said the parliamentary hearings might take more than a day. It was unclear if there would be a vote.

“There will probably be a debate,” she said. “Obviously they will expect statements from the delegation that went to Saudi Arabia.”