Musharraf may soon address Pak parliament

Islamabad, Jul 1: Amid media reports that the PPP had made up its mind to remove him from the Presidency, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has expressed his readiness to address a joint session of the Parliament, a move which he has been avoiding till now, sensing trouble and slogan shouting by Treasury benches.

According to The News, PML-Q leader and Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly, Pervez Elahi persuaded Musharraf to this effect last evening when he called on the latter at the Presidential Camp Office in Rawalpindi. The duo discussed the prevailing political and economic situation in the country, besides other important issues.

Elahi reportedly told Musharraf that it will be the responsibility of the Treasury benches to maintain law and order in the House and that his address to the joint session of the Parliament would make the President's position strong.

Elahi, the erstwhile Punjab chief minister, assured complete support of Opposition parties to the President against any move to impeach him by the coalition government.

Quoting sources the paper reported that Elahi suggested to the President to address the parliament, to which the latter assured that he would review all the aspects of the issue. The sources also said that on the occasion, Elahi also briefed the President about the alleged political victimisation of Opposition members in the Punjab province.

ANI