The opposition is all set to protest during President Arif Alvi’s address to the joint session of parliament on Monday (today).
It is learnt that the opposition has planned to disrupt the president’s speech before staging a walk-out and holding demonstrations outside the Parliament House.
Meanwhile, heads of opposition parties have planned a meeting before the joint session. The meeting, presided over by Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif, will prepare a strategy for the joint sitting’s proceedings.
The president summoned both houses of the parliament on Saturday to assemble in the Parliament House in the exercise of his powers under Article 56(3) of the Constitution.
The occasion will mark the start of fourth parliamentary year of the ruling PTI and, as the tradition, the president addresses the joint session.
According to an official announcement, the joint session will be attended by, besides members of parliament, the chief justice of Pakistan, services chiefs, advisers and special assistants to the prime ministers, heads of all the constitutional bodies, diplomats and other dignitaries as guests.
Earlier, it was announced that the joint session would begin in the morning, but the schedule was changed and the house will meet at 4pm.
National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser will chair session being held under strict coronavirus standard operating procedures (SOPs). A rapid COVID-19 test counter will be set up at the reception of the Parliament House to facilitate the lawmakers.
