ISLAMABAD: President Mamnoon Hussain will be addressing a joint session of Parliament today to mark the beginning of the new parliamentary year.
The session is expected to begin around 11am, and will mark the start of the ruling party’s last year in government. The address by the president — his fourth since the government was formed in 2013 — is part of parliamentary tradition.
According to Radio Pakistan, the president will highlight the achievements of the government in various sectors, including the war against terrorism, law and order, economic challenges, power generation and agriculture.
Apart from members of the Senate, National Assembly, all governors and chief ministers, the services chiefs will also be in attendance. Moreover, ambassadors of various countries have also been invited to witness the session.
For the high-profile event, special entry passes have been issued and security is on high alert as the senior civil and military leadership of the country will be assembled in one place.
Meanwhile, the opposition parties, led by Pakistan Peoples Party’s Khursheed Shah, are devising a joint strategy regarding their conduct during the session.
Sources said they are planning to disrupt the proceedings as a sign of protest against the government’s decision not to broadcast the opposition members’ budget speeches live on national television. Moreover, the opposition may also express its displeasure regarding former ruling party senator Nehal Hashmi’s outburst against the prime minister’s ‘enemies’ on Wednesday.
