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ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani met with parliamentary leaders of coalition parties in Islamabad, DawnNews reported.
The meeting discussed the upcoming joint session of the parliament and the country's prevalent political situation.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Gilani said he was hopeful that the opposition would not boycott the March 22 address of President Asif Ali Zardari to a joint sitting of both houses of parliament.
Prime Minister Gilani said he believed in democratic values and would not side with undemocratic forces.
Moreover, Prime Minister Gilani telephoned PML-N leader and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Governor Sindh Ishratul Ebad. He reportedly requested the leaders not to protest during President Zardari’s address to the parliament.
Earlier, on March 19, a delegation of the People’s Party, headed by Inter-Provincial Coordination Minister Raza Rabbani, met Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, to seek the opposition’s cooperation during President Zardari’s to the parliament.
However, during that meeting, Chaudhry Nisar complained about the recent behaviour of PPP MPAs in Punjab Assembly, but said the PML-N would follow parliamentary traditions and not create any fuss during the joint session.
President Zardari in his address on Tuesday is likely to announce the national agenda for the next two years.
His address is scheduled for 1600 PST.
President Zardari earlier addressed the Parliament on September 20, 2008, March 28, 2009 and on April 5, 2010.
