The National Assembly session in Islamabad is likely to be rescheduled, according to parliamentary sources, who said the sitting is now expected to be convened next week. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has not yet sent a summary to President Asif Ali Zardari to summon the session.
The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs had earlier forwarded a summary to the prime minister proposing that the session be convened on Monday at 5:00 PM. Sources said the president and the prime minister decided to postpone it during their meeting the previous day.
Zardari and Shehbaz discuss security and the economy
The two leaders met on Saturday to discuss the country’s political, economic and security situation in detail, the premier’s office said. Shehbaz welcomed the president at his residence in Lahore’s Model Town, according to identical statements from the Prime Minister’s Office and the Presidency.
Also read: Zardari meets Shehbaz in Lahore to discuss key issues
The premier briefed Zardari on his recent visit to Turkiye, where he took part in the 31st Conference of Parties to highlight Pakistan’s climate action efforts. The statement said both leaders exchanged views on “cooperation among allied parties, continuation of consultation and progress on public welfare projects,” and reaffirmed their commitment to accelerating economic stability and development.
National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq Khan, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, PM’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah, former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, Senator Saleem Mandviwalla and MNA Hamza Shehbaz also attended.
Presidency denies discussion of new provinces
The meeting came two days after Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi called on the president. Media reports claimed that the two had discussed the possible formation of new provinces during their meeting in Nawabshah, but the President House said “no such discussion” took place.
The Presidency said “matters concerning national security and the regional situation” were discussed instead. The last publicly reported meeting between Zardari and Shehbaz was on October 10, when the two 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 by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye.
