Zardari to address joint sitting of parliament for record 6th time

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zaradi will address the joint sitting of parliament for the record sixth time during his five years in the presidency here on Monday (today).

He will be the first president to address both the houses of the parliament: National Assembly and the Senate, for sixth time.

Former military dictator Gen Ziaul Haq and ex-president Ghulam Ishaq Khan addressed the joint sittings five times each.

Zardari has been taking credit of landmark 18th and 19th amendments to the Constitution and devolution of powers to the federating units in his previous speeches in the joint sessions.

Mr Zardari is expected to take pride in holding peaceful and free general election that led to historic democratic transition of power from one elected government to the other democratically elected government.

He had underlined the need for holding transparent election during his last address to the joint session. The president is unlikely to face protest during his speech in the parliament contrary to 90s.

Zardari is going to achieve a rare distinction of becoming the first president to address the National Assembly which came into being after peaceful transition of power.

He would get honour of addressing two different National Assemblies during his stint like Ishaq Khan and Leghari.