Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday asked President Pervez Musharraf to address a joint sitting of the parliament as it is mandatory for him to do so under the constitution.
Gilani said Musharraf's recent comments that he would abide by any decision of the parliament regarding his possible impeachment vindicated "our stand" regarding sovereignty of the parliament.
Responding to a point of order raised by a lawmaker in the National Assembly or lower house of parliament, Gilani
said the President is part of the parliament and his address to a joint sitting of the National Assembly and the Senate is a constitutional requirement.
Gilani pointed out that the President did not address the parliament during the tenure of the previous government, which was unconstitutional. "Our stand regarding the sovereignty of parliament was vindicated when the President, at his press conference, said he would respect any decision of parliament," Gilani said.
During his recent interaction with the press, Musharraf said every President since the mid-1980s had been insulted in parliament. The Pakistani President also said he was prepared to go to the parliament if the Speaker and the members promised to hear him out.
Responding to another point of order, Gilani said he has constituted a committee comprising the ministers for law,
water and power, information and broadcasting and labour and his Advisor on Interior Affairs to work with the provincial governments and lawyers and ascertain the routes for a 'long march' for restoration of deposed judges.
