Opposition to give tough time to govt in joint sitting

Musharraf issue likely to dominate proceedings

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and other opposition parties decided to give a tough time to the government during the joint session of parliament scheduled to be held at Parliament House at 5:00pm today (Monday).

Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani and National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq will jointly chair the session. The opposition parties will raise the Pervez Musharraf issue forcefully in the joint session.

The government is likely to table the Pakistan International Airlines Corporation (Conversion) Bill 2015 after taking the opposition into confidence. The House and Business Advisory Committee will meet before the joint session of parliament and devised a strategy for the smooth sailing of all the pending bills.

Amid the expected tough posturing, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has prepared a counter strategy. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will issue directives to the PML-N leaders before the joint session. The premier is also expected to figure in the joint session.

According to the agenda, seven bills will be presented in the joint session for passage. These include The Pakistan International Airlines Corporation (Conversion) Bill, 2016. This bill provides for the setting up of the Pakistan International Airlines Corporation into a public limited company. Other bills to be presented include the Gas Theft Control and Recovery

 Bill, 2014, the Emigration (Amendment) Bill, 2014, the Civil Servants (Amendment) Bill, 2014, the Anti-Rape Laws (Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill, 2015, the Anti-Honour Killing Laws (Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill, 2015 and the Privatisation Commission (Second Amendment) Bill, 2015.

Talking to The News, well-informed sources in government said the prime minister had directed all the federal ministers and parliamentarians to attend the session with full preparation.

On the other hand, the party sources said that the PPP would raise the issue of Musharraf’s departure from the country vociferously in Parliament, adding that Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah and all the opposition lawmakers would severely criticise the government on the issue.