Security arrangements for joint sitting of Parliament reviewed

Federal Minister for Interior Rehman Malik on Friday gave comprehensive briefing to a high level meeting presided over by Speaker National Assembly Dr Fehmida about the security arrangements made for forthcoming joint session of the Parliament to be addressed by Chinese Prime Minister.
National Assembly Secretariat sources told Business Recorder that the country's top political and military leadership, as well as foreign diplomats are likely to attend the joint session. They said that, the Chief of Army Staff, the Chief Justice of Pakistan, all four governors and chief ministers, three service chiefs, diplomats and other high officials would be invited to the joint session, which would be held on December 19, 2010.
The Chinese Prime Minister will arrive in Pakistan on December 17 on a three-day visit. Special security arrangements have been made in this regard and no one would be allowed to enter the Parliament without entrance pass. The Interior Minister briefed a meeting in the Parliament House presided over Speaker National Assembly Dr Fehmida Mirza on Friday afternoon about security arrangements for the forthcoming joint session of the Parliament.
The meeting was attended by Secretary Senate, Secretary National Assembly, Secretary Ministry of Interior, senior officers of Capital Development Authority, Islamabad Capital Administration and Police and other concerned departments. Arrangements regarding seating, security and other allied matter were discussed in the meeting. The Speaker appreciated the arrangements made by the Interior Ministry, however, directed all the departmental heads to maintain close liaison to avoid any shortcomings.
It was decided that General public and guests of the parliamentarians would not be issued invitation cards. It was also decided that the entry into the precincts of the Parliament House will be restricted on the day of session and entry will only be through special invitation cards issued by the National Assembly Secretariat.
Madam Speaker directed the National Assembly Secretariat to run a shuttle service between Parliament House and Lodges for the convenience of the Parliamentarians. She said that this shuttle service would help avert rush of vehicles at the main entry gate of the Parliament House.