ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has refused to accept the resignation of Yousaf Raza Gillani as Leader of Opposition in Senate.
PPP leader and former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gillani stepped down as the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate after his absence led to the passage of the State Bank (Amendment) Bill, 2021, in the Upper House of Parliament.
“I have submitted my resignation to my party; I do not want to to be the Opposition leader anymore,” Gillani said while addressing on the floor of the Senate on Monday.
However, Bilawal refused to accept the resignation, saying that Gillani gave exemplary services for democracy in the country. Bilawal backed Gillani’s statement that the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) amendment bill was passed by Chairman Senate in connivance with the federal government, He said that PPP is the only party in which elected representatives presented themselves for accountability and Gillani has always struggled for democracy.
Earlier Yousuf Raza Gilani announced that he has submitted his resignation as the opposition leader in the Senate to his party leadership.
Speaking on the floor of the Upper House of Parliament, the former prime minister slammed Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani for voting in favour of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Amendment Bill, 2021.
“It happened for the first time in the country’s history that the Senate chairman voted [in the government’s favour]. You are the custodian of the house and not the government. You should be impartial,” he said.
Gilani said the notice his office received about the Senate session made no mention of the bill that was going to be tabled for voting. Issuing the session’s agenda late at night was uncalled for, he added. “I don’t want to serve as the opposition leader anymore and have submitted my resignation to the party,” the PPP leader said.
The Senate had passed the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Amendment Bill on Friday with a razor-thin majority. The bill was presented by Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin amid protest by the opposition members.
44 senators, including the Senate chairman, voted in favour of the bill while 43 voted against it. The opposition leaders had criticised Gillani for his absence during the crucial Senate session.
