Islamabad (Web Desk): A joint session of the parliament is being held at the parliament house in Islamabad today (Wednesday).
The session is expected to take up important legislation, including the controversial Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) law.
Pakisdtan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led government has the support of around 221 members. The government boasts the support of 179 members in the National Assembly, while the opposition alliance has got the support of 219 members in today’s session.
Prime Minister Imran Khan's party vowed to get the EVM bill passed from parliament despite reservations from the opposition.
ECP also raised objections, saying introducing these machines without in-depth study could undermine free, fair, and transparent polls.
Lawmakers from both houses will attend the joint session today for which Prime Minister Imran Khan has personally met lawmakers for the approval of key legislation while the opposition parties have drawn strategies to block controversial bills.
On the other hand, opposition on Wednesday conducted a meeting of parliamentary parties ahead of Parliament’s joint session.
Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Yousaf Raza Gillani chaired the session.
As per the details, the participants devised strategy regarding joint session of the parliament while they also deliberated upon blocking the passage of the ‘controversial legislation’ with full force.
Moreover, all the opposition members have been directed to ensure their presence in the Parliament.
Earlier, the joint session was supposed to take place on November 11 but was cancelled by the government as its allies reportedly expressed reservations.
However, after taking all allies on board, President Arif Alvi summoned the session on November 17 (today) at noon.