ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday summoned separate sessions of both the National Assembly and Senate, set to meet today (Thursday) amid growing tensions over a host of pressing national issues.
In a formal notification issued by the President’s Secretariat, it was announced that the National Assembly session would commence at 5pm, while the Senate session would start at 4pm on the same day.
These sessions will be held in accordance with the powers vested in the President under Article 54(1) of the Constitution of Pakistan, which mandates the President to summon sessions of Parliament.
The upcoming sittings are significant as they will witness the formal induction of newly elected members of the National Assembly, who have recently secured their seats through by-elections.
These members are expected to take their oaths during the session, officially marking their entry into the legislative body. The swearing-in of these legislators will bring new faces to the National Assembly, which is likely to influence the dynamics of parliamentary proceedings.
The sessions are expected to address a range of pressing issues, with economic challenges, national security concerns, and foreign policy matters likely to dominate the discussions.
Similarly, security matters, particularly those related to regional instability and counterterrorism efforts, are likely to be on the agenda.
With ongoing challenges in neighbouring Afghanistan and tensions with certain regional actors, the government is expected to brief Parliament on its foreign policy stance and the steps it plans to take in addressing both internal and external security threats.
This will mark the 22nd session of the current National Assembly and the 356th session of the Senate, underscoring the ongoing legislative activity in a challenging political landscape.
It is expected that the proceedings will provide an opportunity for lawmakers to deliberate on the country’s pressing issues and strengthen their collective response to national challenges.
The sessions will also serve as a platform for the opposition to raise concerns over the government’s policies, while the ruling coalition is likely to outline its legislative agenda for the remainder of the parliamentary term.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025