By NNN-APP
Islamabad : The 13th National Assembly of Pakistan started its formal proceedings with inaugural session, was glittered with the presence of many veterans and the new entrants from the leading political parties.
Pleasantries were exchanged by the old rivals and new allied parties leaders.
Independent members were the first to enter the assembly hall which were followed by PML-Q and MQM MNAs, among them were Khush Bakht Shujaat, Amir Muqam, Chudhry Pervez Elahi, Farooq Ahmed Khan Leghari, Jehangir Tareen, Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao and members from Fata.
Then the majority parties leaders of PPP, PML-N and ANP entered the assembly hall and were surrounded by other party members.
Asfanyar Wali Khan central leader of Awami National Party flanked by his party members including Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, was warmly received by Engineer Amir Muqam while Fauzia Wahab was hugged by Doniya Aziz.
Amir of Jammiat e Ulema Islam (JUI-F) Maulana Fazalu Rehman appeared in a jocund mood, standing in the middle of assembly hall, he greeted every member who approached him.
In the absence of his former allies of Muttahida Majlis e Amal, he was certainly a figure of attention among the religious party members and those hailing from NWFP.
Chaudhry Nisar Ali of PML-N, Makhdoom Javed Hashmi, Co-chairman of PPP Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Mehmood Shah Qureshi, Raja Pervez Ashraf were the other leaders appearing in upbeat mood.
All PPPP members were wearing badges having picture of its former leader late Benazir Bhutto.
Besides, presence of PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, PML-N leader Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif, President Supreme Court Bar Association Aitzaz Ahmed, leaders of former ruling PML-Q, former speaker and senators adorn the guests galleries.
Sober and confident President of Pakhtunkhwa Awami Party (PkMAP) Mehmood Khan Achakzai, flamboyant leader of PPP Aitzaz Ahmed, ever skeptical of former government’s policies Imran Khan, Chairman Pakistan Tehrik e Insaf, fluent but always keeping his sangfroid intact Liaquat Baloch of Jammiat e Islami and adroitly tackling opposition’s onslaught in the former government tenure Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, who either preferred boycott or lost their seats, would be conspicuous from their absence in the new assembly.
However, streaks of confidence and beams of joy kept emanating from the faces of newly elected members.
It can be called the beginning of a new chapter in the democratic history of the country as the members enjoying the public mandate would soon find themselves in a better position to tackle the basic issues confronting the country especially menace of terrorism.