September 21, 2008	Sunday	Ramazan 20, 1429

ISLAMABAD, Sept 20: Opposition leaders expressed disappointment on Saturday over President Asif Ali Zardari’s maiden address to the joint sitting of parliament, while leaders of the ruling coalition termed it a historic event in the process of transition to democracy.

Pakistan Muslim League-N leader Mian Nawaz Sharif, who attended the joint session of the parliament on the invitation of Mr Zardari, expressed the hope that whatever the president had said in his speech would be implemented in letter and spirit.

Talking to newsmen at the parliament house, Mr Sharif said the government should safeguard the territorial integrity of the country. “The government must (also) ensure the sovereignty of parliament so that it could legislate in accordance with the wishes of people.”

Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said the president’s address had not met the expectations of the nation. It was as disappointing as Zardari’s first news conference.

Mr Khan said the president neither addressed any important issue nor did he announce any steps for amending the Constitution immediately.

He claimed that the amendments to put the Constitution back to its October 12, 1999 position could be passed quickly if the government wanted.

He demanded of the government to make public deals with the US, if there were any, which allowed American forces to launch attacks inside Pakistan.

Awami National Party President Asfandyar Wali Khan, while commenting on Zardari’s announcement about renaming of the NWFP as Pakhtoonkhwa, said: “I stand vindicated by voting for Zardari in the presidential election.”

He said that only a strong federation could be act as a guarantee for a strong Pakistan. “It is the first time in the history of the country that a president is speaking about provincial autonomy,” he said.

Parliamentary leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Q in the National Assembly Makhdoom Faisal Saleh Hayat said the president’s speech was not much different from that of the prime minister’s six months ago.

Minister for Information Sherry Rahman said the president’s speech reflected people’s aspirations in which he unveiled an important national agenda by offering to surrender his own powers through scrapping of Article 58(2)-b.

Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-F leader Abdul Ghafoor Haideri said the speech was a true reflection of the people’s aspirations.

He lauded the formation of committees on the 17th amendment and Article 58(2)-b and renaming of the NWFP as Pakhtoonkhwa. He said these issues were part of understanding reached between his party and the PPP after the Feb 18 elections.