Zardari would make history as the first elected President to address the joint session of Parliament for a fourth time. This is being interpreted as a reflection of the strengthening of democratic institutions. The judgment would have to wait, however, till the session is over. It is a tradition in parliamentary democracies to maintain solemnity during the address of the head of the state. The tradition has not always been followed in Pakistan. Two presidents were heckled by the parliamentarians, once by those belonging to the PPP and another time by those from the PML(N). Musharraf was so afraid of being hooted out that he declined to address the Parliament in blatant disregard of the constitutional requirement. The presidential address takes place this time amid wrangling between the PPP and MQM and an offensive by the opposition against the government. The PML(Q) has already announced a boycott of the address. The PML(N) is not only highly critical of the governments policies but is jittery over the rumpus created in the Punjab Assembly by the PPP in collaboration with the PML(Q).
It is ironical that despite the governments declared policy of rapprochement with all political forces, it stands alienated from its erstwhile partners with the exception of the ANP. The PML(N) left the coalition within a few months. The JUI(F) parted ways when one of its ministers was removed from the cabinet in the wake of the Haj scam. While the MQM ended the boycott of the Sindh Assembly last week, the sudden outburst of hostility between the PPP Sindh and MQM is again threatening the coalition.
The President is supposed to be a representative of the federation in parliamentary democracy. By insisting on simultaneously retaining the office of the PPP co-Chairman, Zardari provided the opposition the argument that the presidency is involved in partisan politics. Prime Minister Gilani has met the parliamentary leaders of coalition parties and telephoned the parliamentary leaders of the PML(N) and JUI(F). He has requested them not to protest during the Presidents address.