ISLAMABAD: A joint session of Parliament has been summoned today (Friday), with strong opposition protests expected during the proceedings.
The session’s 17-point agenda has already been released. President Asif Ali Zardari called the session on the advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Scheduled to begin at 10 am, the session will be presided over by National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq at the Parliament House in Islamabad.
President Zardari invoked his authority under Article 54(1) of the Constitution to convene the session, during which the government plans to present pending bills for legislative consideration. Additionally, bills previously returned by former president Arif Alvi are on the agenda for discussion and review.
The government’s legislative proposals include 10 government and private bills, many of which were returned to Parliament by the former president without approval. These bills, previously approved by both houses, are expected to be a focal point of today’s deliberations.
Significant bills under discussion include:
- Higher Education Commission (Amendment) Bill 2023
- Federal Public Service Commission (Amendment) Bill 2023
- Federal Urdu University (Amendment) Bill 2023
- Trade Organizations (Amendment) Bill 2023
- NFC Institute of Engineering and Technology, Multan (Amendment) Bill
- National Skills University, Islamabad (Amendment) Bill 2023
- Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals (Amendment) Bill 2023
- National Commission for Human Development (Amendment) Bill 2023
- Press Newspapers, News Agencies, and Books Registration (Amendment) Bill
- Import and Export Control (Amendment) Bill 2023.
Special security measures have been implemented for the session, according to the National Assembly spokesperson. Guest access has been restricted to maintain order during the proceedings.
In preparation for the joint session, the Senate meeting has been rescheduled to 2:30 pm, instead of the usual 10:30 am start time.
Details of Bills Returned by the President
According to Aaj News, a total of 29 bills have been returned to Parliament without approval. Of these, 21 were sent back by former president Arif Alvi, while eight were returned by his successor, President Zardari.
Alvi returned 10 government bills, several of which are expected to be discussed in today’s session. These include both government and private legislative proposals that had previously been approved by both houses but were not signed into law.
With critical legislation and political tensions on the table, today’s session is expected to be a pivotal moment in the legislative and political landscape. All eyes are on the opposition’s response, which is anticipated to be both vocal and confrontational.
