ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari will add a new chapter to the country’s parliamentary history Monday as he addresses the joint sitting of the parliament for the record sixth time.
The President will address parliament’s both upper and lower houses during a session he has summoned for at 4.30 p.m here at the Parliament House.According to the constitutional provisions, the President has to address a joint session of the parliament at the beginning of the first session of the National Assembly after a general election as well as the first sittingof the National Assembly every parliamentary year.President Zardari will become the country’s first head of the state to address the parliament’s joint sitting for sixth consecutive times.
Earlier he addressed the joint sessions in March 2009, September 2009, April 2010, December 2011 and March 2012.The joint session scheduled for Monday will be the first formal session of the National Assembly after the elections and swearing-in of the new Prime Minister, Speaker and the Deputy Speaker.After smooth democratic transition in the country, President Zardari is all set to make the unique distinction in the parliamentary annals.In his address, he is expected to highlight the significance of democratic transition and the role played by the political parties in making it a success. He is also likely to spell out the internal and externalchallenges the country faces; including the threat of terrorism, economic difficulties, energy crisis and other issues that need urgent attention of the new government.
The joint parliamentary session will be attended by Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, also the leader of the House in National Assembly.Nawaz Sharif is the fourth prime minister during the five-year tenure of President Zardari. The three other chief executives were Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and caretaker Justice ® Mir Hazar Khan Khoso.The Monday’s event will also be attended by provincial Governors, Chief Ministers, heads of armed forces, envoys of different countries based in Pakistan and other prominent personalities.Earlier, former Presidents late General Ziaul Haq and late Ghulam Ishaq Khan had the opportunity to address the parliament five times. – APP
