NA first session tomorrow

The National Assembly will meet tomorrow (Monday) at 11am, when newly elected members will take oath; whereas, the political parties are still in consultation with each other for the government formation. Meantime, Makhdoom Amin Fahim cancelled his meeting with PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif. All the MNAs have arrived in Islamabad and the pre-session consultations among the political parties are in full swing.
PPP leaders along with their top leader Asif Ali Zardari are persistently holding consultations at Zardari House here. PPP spokesman Farhatullah Babar said a consultation meeting with party MPAs from NWFP will be held this afternoon here with Asif Ali Zardari in the chair. In the consultation being held here, the leaders of political parties will take into confidence their respective parties members over the developments in the formation of government. Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q) chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has hosted a dinner today in the honour of party MNAs, where it is expected that they will issue names of the candidates for the slots of speaker, deputy speaker and premier. PPP leader Makhdoom Amin Fahim, who is still the PM candidate, is holding meetings with various leaders; however he has called off his meeting with Nawaz Sharif planned today. Amin Fahim said he was scheduled to arrive today in Lahore to hold meetings with Mian Nawaz Sharif and Qazi Hussain Ahmed; however, he is canceling the programme owing to his party related schedule here in Islamabad. Meantime, the parliamentary parties of PPPP and PML-N are holding their meetings here in Islamabad. These sessions would mull over the significant affairs including future course of action. Various parties are also buttressing the Amin Fahim’s candidature for PM. PPP sources said Asif Ali Zardari is not included in this PM race, while most of the party members deem him fit for the premiership. The sources said in the event he steps back, then the chances for the Makhdoom Amin Fahim would brighten up. In this case, the speaker would be taken from Punjab and the deputy speaker from NWFP. Party sources said everything is set among the coalition parties over the ministries. The PPP would announce the final names for the slots of speaker, deputy speaker and premiership tomorrow after the meeting.