Islamabad: Pakistan opposition parties jeered and chanted slogans against ruling Pakistan Muslim League—Nawaz (PML-N) during President Mamnoon Hussain’s address to a joint session of parliament’s two houses on Thursday.
The President, however, continued his address marking the fifth and last session of the current Parliament, amid protests by the opposition.
During his address, the president highlighted the achievements of the government in diverse sectors, including war against terrorism, law and order, economic challenges, power generation and agriculture. The speech was broadcast live.
Besides members of the Senate, the National Assembly, all governors and chief ministers, the services chiefs also attended the parliament session.
The opposition, chanting ‘Go Nawaz Go’ and ‘traitor’, staged a walkout from Parliament.
Talking to media outside the parliament building, leader of opposition Khursheed Shah criticised the president’s speech, saying he did not address the issues of national importance, including corruption.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif called on Hussain at the President’s House in Islamabad, where both discussed matters related to country’s internal and external security situation.
Sharif briefed Hussain about the details of meeting of cabinet’s national security committee held on Wednesday.
Governor Sindh Mohammad Zubair Thursday said opposition’s protest during presidential address to the joint sitting of parliament was against the Charter of Democracy (CoD).
Talking to media outside Parliament House, he said Pakistan Muslim League—Nawaz did not make Former President Asif Ali Zardari’s addresses controversial during Pakistan Peoples Party’s tenure.
“If opposition has differences with the prime minster then president should not be made controversial,” he proposed.
He said political circumstances were good in the country and every party was running its campaign for next general election.
—Agencies
