Islamabad, June 11 : Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has reportedly asked President Pervez Musharraf to address the joint session of parliament as, in his word, it was a “constitutional requirement” for a president to address a new parliament.

He said the President was a part of parliament and his address was mandatory under the country’s constitution, reported The News.

The prime minister said their stand on the sovereignty of the parliament was vindicated when the president said he would respect any decision of the parliament.

Earlier, PML-Q member Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada said that according to the Constitution, the President should address the National Assembly session at the commencement of each year.

Musharraf has so far not addressed the parliament since the new government came into being after the February 18 general polls, as the PPP and the PML-N, the two parties opposed to his policies, emerged as the two largest parties. In the present National Assembly, in all likelihood, Musharraf might face stern opposition during his address. (ANI)