F.P. Report
ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in a hard-hitting speech in Senate against opposition and particularly at Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Yousef Raza Gillani said that Gillani will not resign from his post and termed his resignation speech in Senate as drama.
FM Qureshi slammed Gillani and said, “He lied, he will remain and take back the resignation and remain stuck to this chair. This was a drama.” He said many circles were not satisfied with the unnecessary explanation of Mr Gillani.
PPP’s Gilani was among at least eight opposition senators who had skipped last Friday’s Senate session, which allowed the PTI government to narrowly manage to get the crucial State Bank of Pakistan (Amendment) Bill passed from the opposition-controlled house — a development that had raised many eyebrows. Gilani, in his own Senate speech on Monday, said that he was being accused by “some turncoats” in what was an apparent reference to Qureshi and Chaudhry’s past as both are former leaders of the PPP.
Speaking on the floor of the Senate today, Qureshi said, “Why the opposition could not see other experienced politicians such as PPP Senators Raza Rabbani and Sherry Rehman in its ranks for the leadership role.”
FM Qureshi accused Gilani of being elected a senator through “buying votes”, saying there were videos of Gilani’s son’s tampering votes in last year’s Senate elections.
“PPP initially agreed with the PML-N to back Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar for the office of opposition leader but later reneged. N-league was ditched in the past and on Friday and will get the same treatment in the future (by PPP),” he commended.
Qureshi today rejected Gilani’s excuse and slammed the opposition for being “unaware, clueless and naive” about the bill being tabled in the Senate when it was already passed by the National Assembly and dates had been set for negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Shah Mehmood Qureshi also quashed seductions and allegations and said SBP was under the parliament and will remain under the parliament. “SBP has not been given under anyone’s slavery and legislation to make SBP autonomous institution is as per the Constitution,” he said.
