President's joint session speech marred by opposition's slogans

ISLAMABAD: President Mamnoon Hussain, in his address to the joint session of Parliament on Thursday, said "history will remember the performance of this House."

In difficult times, Parliament has displayed national unity, said the president.

As soon as the president began his speech, members of the opposition benches began shouting anti-government slogans to register their protest against the federal government.

During the initial phase of the president's speech, chants of 'go Nawaz go' echoed in the House. 

In his speech, the president praised the government's economic policies, as well as the recently proposed federal budget.

The China Pakistan Economic Corridor will be a source of development for the entire region, he stated.

"Kashmir issue is an unfinished agenda of Partition," he said, adding that it can only be resolved in light of the United Nations' resolutions.

The president also condemned the Indian policies in Kashmir, as well as its aggression over the Line of Control.  

"I invite the Afghan leadership to resolve our differences. We are with our Afghan brothers shoulder to shoulder in their time of need," he said further.

Condemning Wednesday's blast in Kabul which left around 90 dead and 300 injured, he said the state and people of Pakistan share the pain of their Afghan brothers and sisters. 

The president also expressed Pakistan's desire to enhance its ties with Russia, and praised the country's relationship with Turkey as well.

He also said measures are under way to end the feeling of isolation faced by Balochistan.

"Opposition shouldn't mar development of the country," said the president.

The president also commended the government's performance in terms of foreign affairs, highlighting the country's recent entry into the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation as a permanent member.

I expect that Operation Raddul Fasaad will soon reach its conclusion and rid Pakistan of the remaining terrorists and extremists, he stated.

The president also termed climate change as the biggest challenge for the agriculture sector of the country.

Answering a question following the conclusion of the session, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said “Those putting up a circus did what they do, but we will continue to work for the people.”

When asked if the government will be able to complete its five-year term, the premier said ‘InshAllah [God willing]’.

Opposition leader Khursheed Shah said that the decision to boycott the president’s speech was unanimously taken by the opposition.

Shah was speaking to media outside the parliament house after the session, where he said that the opposition’s stance is quite apparent.

He alleged that the government’s aim was to threaten the institutions.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that due to the government’s tenacity the nation had to see this day.

“The president should have immediately taken notice of the threats made to the national institutions,” said Qureshi.

Geo News also reported that during the opposition's sloganeering earlier, opposition member MNA Jamshed Dasti's whistling caught the attention of the services chiefs. 

The joint session marked the beginning of the new parliamentary year. The session began with the playing of the national anthem, followed by recitation from the Holy Quran. 

The address by the president — his fourth since the government was formed in 2013 — is part of parliamentary tradition.

Prior to the session, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif held a meeting with the president wherein issues of national importance came under discussion. 

Apart from members of the Senate, National Assembly, all governors and chief ministers and the services chiefs were in attendance. Moreover, ambassadors of various countries were also invited to witness the session.

For the high-profile event, special entry passes were issued and security was on high alert as the senior civil and military leadership of the country assembled in one place.

Opposition’s huddle

Meanwhile, the opposition parties, led by Pakistan Peoples Party’s Khursheed Shah, held a meeting earlier to devise a joint strategy regarding their conduct during the session.

Sources said they planned to disrupt the proceedings as a sign of protest against the government’s decision not to broadcast the opposition members’ budget speeches live on national television. Moreover, the opposition may also express its displeasure regarding former ruling party senator Nehal Hashmi’s outburst against the prime minister’s ‘enemies’ on Wednesday.

Additional reporting by Arshad Waheed Chaudhry