Zardari to address parliament soon
President Asif Ali Zardari plans to address Pakistan’s parliament amid speculation that he would clarify certain issues linked to the controversial “memogate” and the deterioration in the US-Pak ties following the cross-border Nato attack that killed 24 Pakistani troops.
Zardari on Sunday announced he would address a joint session of both houses of parliament even as he called on workers of the ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) not to be “provoked into any aggression” in the face of challenges confronting the government.
An official statement said Zardari intended to speak to the joint session of parliament after Muharram but did not give details of what the address will focus on.
It is expected that the president will speak on the controversial secret memo delivered to the US military by Pakistani-American businessman Mansoor Ijaz fearing an army coup and the recent cross-border Nato attack that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers.
Zardari, who is also co-chairman of PPP and supreme commander of the armed forces, called on party workers to “show patience, strictly observe democratic norms and refuse to be provoked into any aggression,” presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar said.
“Democracy calls for tolerance, patience and steadfastness as demonstrated by Aung San Suu Ki in standing up to mountains of hardship for the cause.”
The time and date of Zardari’s address to the joint session of parliament will be announced by the government, Babar said.
