ISLAMABAD: The joint sitting of the Parliament is being held today (Monday). The session has been convened for the address of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdo?an who is arriving on a three-day official visit to Pakistan on invitation of Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani.
Turkish Prime Minister is likely to be the lone foreign dignitary having honored to address Pakistani Parliament twice. Earlier, he addressed the both Houses of the Parliament in 2009.The offices of the lower house of the Parliament remained open on weekly holidays, Saturday and Sunday, for finalization of arrangements.Well-placed sources, told Media that on Saturday a Turkish security delegation paid a visit to the Parliament House to inspect security arrangements and discussed security related matters with concerned officers.
Sources further said that visiting delegation was given a round to the Parliament House and adjacent areas and was also given a short briefing about security measures adopted for averting any unwanted.According to tentative schedule, Recep Tayyip Erdo?an will be received jointly by Speaker National Assembly Dr. Fehmida Mirza and Acting Chairman Senate Sabir Baloch on his arrival at the Parliament House.
Later, the visiting Prime Minister will pay a courtesy call to both the ‘Custodians of the Houses’ and delegations of both sides will also be present in the meeting.The spouse of the Turkish Prime Minister along with half dozen of his cabinet members and half dozen members of the Grand National Assembly of turkey are also accompanying him.Sources said that invitation cards have been dispatched to all foreign diplomats in Islamabad, all provincial Chief Ministers, Governors and Services’ Chiefs and President and Prime Minister Azad Jammu and Kashmir and all federal secretaries.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Sunday decided that it would not only attend the joint sitting of parliament but would also show patience and tolerance during the address of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.Sources said that Turkish Prime Minister is highly respected in Pakistan and on his arrival in the parliament; PML-N would accord him a very warm welcome.Opposition leader, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan would also participate in the joint session on Monday on the special directives of PML-N Chief Nawaz Sharif. Earlier, Ch. Nisar Ali Khan was reluctant to attend the session because of the obduracy of Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani and his unconstitutional act in the contempt case.
When Media contacted PML-N leader Senator Pervaiz Rasheed, said that PML-N has decided to attend the joint session of the parliament as it holds Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in high esteem.The PML-N members would not chant slogans in the respect of its honourable guest from Turkey, he added.
