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Clinton to address select gathering in Presidency

ASIF FAROOQI

ISLAMABAD: United States President Bill Clinton on his visit here will address a selective gathering of intellectuals and notables at the President House soon after his arrival in Islamabad, it is learnt.

The US President will also attend a brief 'question and answer' session on the conclusion of his address. Pakistan Television and Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation have been asked to make arrangements for live telecast and broadcast of the presidential speech from Aiwan-e-Sadr.

US officials have over-ruled an earlier proposal that Clinton should address the Pakistani nation only through the electronic media.

The Foreign Office remained to be the main hub of activity on proposed visit finalising the protocol and other arrangements. The names of people who are to be invited to the elite gathering at the President House on March 25 were also scrutinised. The proposal is to invite people from all shades of life including serving and retired civil and military officials, politicians, journalists, human rights workers, members of the non-governmental organisations and traders organisations.

The Ministry of Information is reported to be finalising arrangements for the journalists to witness the arrival of the US President at the Chaklala airbase at noon on Saturday. But the reporters who have gathered in Islamabad from all over the world would not be allowed to talk to the President at the airbase.

According to officials, more or less one hundred journalists from all over the world have requested for watching the historic event.