News
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Turkish premier to address joint session of parliament
* President summons session on May 21
* PML-N undecided over participation
ISLAMABAD: Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will address the joint session of parliament on May 21 (Monday), on the second day of his three-day visit to Pakistan.
The Turkish prime minister will be visiting the country on special invitation of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani. The visit will start tomorrow (Sunday).
A high-powered delegation will accompany Erdogan on the trip, during which he will address the joint session and co-chair with Gilani the second High-Level Cooperation Council meeting.
Acting President Nayyer Hussain Bokhari on Friday summoned the joint sitting of parliament. The Turkish prime minister will be addressing the joint session of parliament for the second time – earlier, he addressed a joint session on October 26, 2009.
Earlier in the day, National Assembly Speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza chaired a meeting to discuss security arrangements for the session, especially on the occasion of the visiting prime minister’s address.
The meeting was attended by the Interior Ministry secretary, CDA chairman, ICT Police inspector general and other senior officers of the departments concerned. The IGP briefed the speaker about the security arrangements made keeping in view the importance of the Turkish prime minister’s visit.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the second largest party in parliament, has convened a consultative meeting today (Saturday) to finalise strategy for the session.
The PML-N has been protesting in the recent sessions of the lower and upper Houses of parliament against the prime minister for not stepping down after conviction by the Supreme Court in the contempt of court case against him.
However, according to sources, PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif would try to convince the hardliners in his party to attend the joint session because of the visiting Turkish prime minister’s address. PML-N spokesman Mushahidullah Khan said the party would reach some decision a day before the session. staff report/onlineCourtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk