Pakistan President to Make Important Policy Announcements

In a major move, after lapse of six years, Pakistan President addresses Parliament on 19 September 2008. This was decided in a Cabinet Meeting held in the morning to-day and chaired by the Pakistan Prime Minister Gillani. The Speaker National Assebly of Pakistan would formaly request the President today or tomorrow.

Under Pakistani Constitution, the President is required to address the joint session of National Assembly and Senate within the prescibed period. The President is also required to address the Parliament at the beginning of each Parliamentary year.

The above decision is an important poltical development in Pakistan. Ex-President Gen (Retd) Musharaf last adressed the Parliament in year 2002. Thereafter, he refused to adress the Parliament on the plea that the Parliamentarians mis-behaved during his first adress to the Parliament. Notwithstanding the constitutional requirement to address the Parliament every year, the General never honored the constitutional obligation.

It is expected that in his address to the Parliament, President Zardari would be forthcoming with important policy announcements concernig foreign policy, security, economic and fiscal matters, 17th Ammendment to the 1973 Constitution, re-instatement of judges of the Superior Courts sent home by the Ex-President on 3rd November 2007. In the present environment of uncertainity in the country and credibility gap amongst the major political parties, policy decisions particularly those on 17th Ammendments and re-instatements of superior judiciary, and Pakistan policy on cross border militancy would help in stabilizing the political and economic environment.