ISLAMABAD – Erdogan to Address Joint Session of Parliament. “Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will address the joint session of parliament on February 14th,” announced National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser on Thursday.
Pakistan and Turkey share a very special relationship. Across Pakistan, people respect and hail President Erdogan as a great leader of Muslims. Meanwhile, this will be the fourth time that Erdogan addresses the Pakistani parliament. The speaker said that he will hold consultations with all the parliamentary leaders on the matter.
Radio Pakistan reported that President Erdogan will be arriving in Pakistan for a two-day visit on February 13.
Turkish president had planned a visit last October to cement relations between the two countries and to extend full support to Pakistan’s stance on the Kashmir issue. Even then, Erdogan was to Address Joint Session of Parliament However, the visit was postponed. Reason being Turkey’s involvement with a military offensive against Kurdish militants in Syria. It also raised tensions with Washington and other Western nations.
Ahead of the October visit, Prime Minister Imran Khan had said: “The government and the people of Pakistan are looking forward to accord a warm welcome to President Erdogan.”
Erodgan last visited Pakistan in during the PML-N-led government, during which he also Address Joint Session of Parliament. He was accompanied by his wife Emine and a high-level delegation.
in 2016, then-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif himself received President Erdogan. Along with his cabinet members and senior officials, first lady Kulsoom Nawaz, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and his younger brother Shehbaz Sharif.