- The NA session proposed for Monday at 5pm is likely to be postponed to next week.
- The PM has not yet sent the summons summary to the president.
- According to parliamentary sources, the delay was agreed when Zardari and Shehbaz met in Lahore.
- No new date has been formally announced.
The National Assembly session originally proposed for Monday is likely to be pushed back to next week. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has not yet forwarded the required summary to President Asif Ali Zardari, who is expected to issue the formal summons.
Parliamentary sources say the decision to delay came during a meeting between the two leaders. No revised date has been formally announced.
cooperation among allied parties, continuation of consultation and progress on public welfare projects
Statement by the Prime Minister's Office and the Presidency, on topics the two leaders discussed
Why the Monday sitting is unlikely
The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs had earlier sent the prime minister a summary asking him to convene the National Assembly on Monday at 5pm. The next step is for the prime minister to send that summary to the president for approval, and that has not yet happened.
As a result, the session is unlikely to go ahead on the proposed date. According to parliamentary sources, officials now expect the assembly to meet next week. The president is expected to issue the formal summons once the process moves forward.
Timeline
- AugustPM Shehbaz briefs the president on the Makkah defence pact signed days earlier by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye.
- Oct 10The president and prime minister discuss the security situation.
- Oct 11The federal government imposes emergency and governor's rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
- SaturdayZardari and Shehbaz meet in Model Town, Lahore; the NA session is reportedly put off.
- Monday, 5pmOriginally proposed time for the National Assembly sitting, now likely to be rescheduled.
What the president and prime minister discussed
President Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz met on Saturday at the premier's residence in Model Town, Lahore. The Prime Minister's Office and the Presidency issued identical statements saying the two reviewed the country's political, economic and security situation in detail.
The prime minister briefed the president on his recent visit to Turkiye, where he took part in the 31st Conference of Parties to highlight Pakistan's efforts on climate action. The two also reaffirmed their commitment to working together to speed up economic stability and development.
National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq Khan, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and the PM's Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah attended. So did former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, Senator Saleem Mandviwalla and MNA Hamza Shehbaz.
Recent contacts at the top
The Saturday meeting came two days after Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi called on the president in Nawabshah. Following media reports that they had discussed the possible creation of new provinces, the President House said "no such discussion" took place. It said they had talked about national security and the regional situation.
The last publicly reported meeting between the president and the prime minister was on Oct 10. They discussed the security situation, a day before the federal government imposed emergency and governor's rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In August, the prime minister had briefed the president on the Makkah defence pact, signed days earlier between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye.
The session is expected to be convened next week. The prime minister must first send the summary to the president, who will then issue the formal summons.
Questions and answers
When was the National Assembly session originally proposed?
The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs proposed convening it on Monday at 5pm.
Why is the session likely to be postponed?
The prime minister has not yet sent the summary to the president. According to parliamentary sources, the two leaders also agreed to delay the sitting when they met.
When will the session now be held?
It is expected to be held next week, though no new date has been formally announced.
Image: Usman.pg / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
