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Published 21 May, 2012 06:23am

Turk premier Erdogan to address parliament today

He would be the seventh world leader to address Pakistan's legislature.

So far, Erdogan is the only world leader to have the distinction of addressing Pakistan's parliament twice. Earlier, he had addressed the legislature in October 2009 and was then the fourth world leader who spoke to the parliament.

As another distinction, Erdogan would be the second Turkish leader to address the country's joint session of Parliament as earlier former Turkish President Kenan Evren had also address the joint session.

Evren remained in office from November 7, 1982 to 1989.

Earlier on December 19, 2010, Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao had addressed the joint sitting being sixth foreign dignitary to have the honor.

In 1997, Queen Elizabeth II addressed joint session who had visited Pakistan on 50th anniversary of country's independence.

In September 1992, the then Iranian President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani visited Pakistan and addressed joint session, besides holding discussions with his counterpart on future of Afghanistan besides economic cooperation.

Earlier, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Sirimavo Bandaranaike visited Pakistan on 4 to 9 September 1974 during the era of late Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and addressed the joint sitting of Senate and National Assembly.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani is the only head of the government who was accorded very special honour to address the Turkish Parliament during his visit.

A special security plan has also been finalised for the joint session of both House.

As per decision, entry into Parliament House would be through special passes issued by the National Assembly Secretariat and parking of vehicles would be in the designated parking lots for which red and green stickers would be issued.

A shuttle services would ply between Parliament Lodges and Parliament House for the convenience of Members of the Parliament.

It was also decided that no armed guards of the parliamentarians would be allowed in the precincts of the Parliament House on the day. (APP)

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