President Asif Ali Zardari will address the joint sitting of parliament on April 16. “The president is scheduled to address the joint session of the parliament on April 16, to mark the beginning of the parliamentary year,” said an official press release. It will be the third session of the 16th National Assembly. The first session of the new parliamentary year will commence on April 18. The ministry of parliamentary affairs will soon send summaries for both the joint parliamentary session and the new NA session to the president. Following the recent Senate elections, the first session of upper house of the parliament is scheduled for April 9. President Zardari will address the joint session in pursuance of Article 56 (3) of the Constitution which says, “At the commencement of the first session after each general election to the National Assembly and at the commencement of the first session of each year the President shall address both Houses assembled together. President Zardari summoned the joint session in exercise of powers conferred under Articles 54 (1) and 56(3) of the Constitution.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan