President addresses joint session of Parliament amid opposition protest

Opposition burst into jeering and chanting slogans against the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) as President Mamnoon Hussain began addressing a joint session of Parliament in Islamabad on Thursday.

The president however continued his address to the joint session amid protest by the opposition. During his address on the beginning of the 5th and last parliamentary year, the president highlighted the achievements of the government in diverse sectors, including 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 also attended the joint session of the Parliament.

Opposition stages boycott

Later, the opposition parties staged a walkout from the Parliament.

Talking to media outside the Parliament building, Leader of the Opposition Khursheed Shah criticised the president’s speech, saying he did not address the issues of national importance, including corruption.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif called on the president at the President’s House in the federal capital, where both discussed matters relating to country’s internal and external security situation.

Opposition stages mock session outside parliament

The prime minister briefed President Mamnoon about the details of meeting of cabinet’s National Security Committee held on Wednesday. The president was also apprised of the One Belt One Road (OBOR) Summit held in China last month.

Source: The Express Tribune