President Asif Ali Zardari will address the joint session of the parliament on September 19, said advisor to the Prime Minister on parliamentary affairs Izhar Amrohavi here on Friday. He said that a summary to this effect has been moved. President Zardari is currently on a four-day private visit to Dubai and United Kingdom.
He will return home before his address to the joint sitting of the Parliament, Amrohavi said. Meanwhile, the government has instructed all the parliamentarians from ruling coalition to stay in the federal capital till the Zardari's address to the joint session. This is constitutional requirement that president addresses the joint session after presidential vote.
Zardari address is being seen as a major development in the perspective that Musharraf addressed the central legislature only once after his election as a president. Musharraf continuously avoided the address, which was mandatory to be made at the outset of each parliamentary year. Political analysts are of the view that Zardari's address will point out the major challenges Pakistan is facing. He is also expected to outline the strategy how to tackle these challenges both on internal and external fronts.