PPP’s Yousaf Raza Gillani resigns as leader of Opposition in senate

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: Senate Opposition Leader senator Yousaf Raza Gillani Monday resigned from his post and submitted his resignation to his party (PPP).

Gillani said, “I do not want to be the Leader of the Opposition (in the Senate).”

Speaking in the Senate session, Gillani alleged that the Chairman Senate position should not be biased. He alleged that the senate chairman adjourned the session and facilitated the government. “The opposition had a majority in the House before the 30-minute adjournment,” Gillani claimed.

In an indirect reference to his absence from Friday’s session, “I am not surprised by the criticism by my opponents but felt pain over the silence of his own people.”

He said the government should take (opposition) into confidence on important issues at the national level.

Sources said that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has received the resignation of Yousaf Raza Gillani this morning and he will take the decision on it after consultations.

It is pertinent to note that 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.