Days before Turkey’s Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan is to address the joint session of parliament and begin his Islamabad tour in earnest, there are signs of a scaling down of tensions between the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the main opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
The Turkish premier will be visiting Pakistan on a special invitation by Prime Minister Gilani on May 20. He will be accompanied by the first lady and a high-powered delegation on his three-day visit, during which he will address the joint session of parliament and co-chair the second High-Level Cooperation Council meeting with his Pakistani counterpart.
This is the second time that the Turkish premier has addressed the country’s parliament. His previous address to the joint session came on October 26, 2009.
As the Turkish premier’s visit draws closer, the PML-N showed its willingness to review its plan for violent demonstrations in the lower house. PML-N officials told The Express Tribune that a “decision in this regard will be taken at a meeting to be chaired by PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif on Saturday (today).”
“We are mindful of good relations with the Turkish premier and will take into account the sensitivity of the situation,” the PML-N official said. “But we still have reservations over Prime Minister Gilani since he is no longer a member of the National Assembly,” he added.
Earlier in the day, National Assembly Speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza pored over the security arrangements for the joint sitting of parliament at a meeting that she chaired.
The meeting was attended by the interior secretary, Capital Development Authority (CDA) chairman, Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) police Inspector General (IG) and other senior officers from concerned departments.
The inspector general briefed the speaker regarding elaborate security arrangements. It was decided that the National Assembly Secretariat will issue special passes for entry to the Parliament House and shuttle services will transport members of parliament between parliament lodges and the House. Parliamentarians will not be allowed to bring personal armed guards in the Parliament House precincts.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 19th, 2012.
COMMENTS (5)
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PMLN has failed to play the role of responsible Opposition, called Her Majesty's Opposition in the British system. Look at the Labour Party.
Lets see what he offers to Pakistan? Its time to differentiate friends and foes. Islamic member of NATO cant be trusted.
Family matters must be kept with in the family, and National interest is always above the personal goals.
National interests should come first. Mature attitude by PMLN.
PML-N would be clean bowled. Gillani is holding PML-N with its nerves. Now it has to choose: Either appear as a total muppet in front of the Turkish PM or bow their heads to Gillani's premiership.