ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari would address the joint sitting of Parliament to be held today (Monday) at 5pm.

It would be the third address of President Asif Ali Zardari to joint sitting of Parliament during last one and half years, after that, the third Parliamentary Year of the Parliament would start.

Speaker National Assembly Dr. Fehmida Mirza would preside over the session. Invitation letters have been dispatched to All Provincial Governors, Chief Ministers, Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, Head of armed forces, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, envoys of different countries living in Pakistan and other prominent personalities for participation in joint sitting of Parliament.

Entry of guest would be banned in the Parliament house due to security reason. Federal Ministers and MNAs have been asked not to take any guest with them at Parliament house on the eve of joint sitting of Parliament.

It is expected that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Asifa Bhutto Zardari and Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari would also listen the address of the President at visiting galleries.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani have already invited Quaid PML-N, Mian Nawaz Sharif, however, the final decision would be taken by the Party on Monday.

After tabling the draft of 18th Amendment Bill in both houses of the Parliament on Friday, the address of the President has immense importance.

The President during his address would make announcement about repealing of 17th amendment as well as 58(2) b, besides announcing his Government’s priority with regard to approval of 18th amendment. After the address of the President, the Parliament would start the process of the approval of the approval of 18th Amendment.

The President would also mention two-year performance of his government and also mention challenges of extremism and terrorism. The President would also talk about the National Reconciliation Policy.

Online when contacted Advisor to the Prime Minister on Parliamentary Affairs Azhar Amrohi confirmed summoning of joint sitting of Parliament.

Meanwhile, the President has summoned senate and national assembly sessions on Tuesday in connection with approval of 18th constitutional amendment.

Senate and national assembly secretariat have issued separate notifications on this count. . As per notification senate session will take place at 10a.m on Tuesday while national assembly will meet at 4pm. Sources told 18th amendment would be put into debate in both the houses and the amendment would be passed with two thirds majority.

On the other hand, snipers would be deployed around Parliament House and its adjacent areas on the eve of President Asif Ali Zardari’s address to joint sitting of Parliament.

Parliament house and its adjacent areas would be searched with help of sniffing dogs before President Asif Ali Zardari’s address to joint sitting of Parliament, sources informed Online.

People entering in Parliament house and Constitutional Avenue would also be checked with metal detector.

Paramilitary force would be deployed along with Police around Parliament house and Constitutional Avenue to meet any untoward incident.

Special invitation letters have been dispatched for participation in joint sitting of Parliament while those who don’t have letters would not be allowed to enter in Parliament House.