ISLAMABAD – Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday resigned as the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate.
The PPP leader announced it while speaking during the Senate session. He said: “I have sent my resignation to my party,” he said.
The development comes as the PPP leader landed in hot waters after the government last week managed to get through the Senate the State Bank of Pakistan Amendment Bill by a majority of 43 votes to 42 of opposition. The bill was part of the government’s efforts to meet the conditions for revival of $6 billion loan programme of IMF.
The former prime minister has been facing a backlash as he was absent from the crucial session of the upper house of the parliament.
In his last address as Senate Opposition leader, Gilani complained that he received a copy of the agenda for Friday’s session with delay.
“A message for the Senate session was sent to my office but it was not told that SBP bill included the agenda,” he said.
The PPP leader said that fingers are being raised towards him as he had facilitated the government in approval of the controversial bill.
Gilani also lashed out at Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani for not following the rule of business, adding: “You [Senate chairman] facilitated the government”.
On Jan 28, Minister for Foreign Affairs Shah Mahmood Qureshi Friday thanked Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani after the passage of State Bank bill in the Senate.
The minister, in a statement, said that the PPP leader did his part which showed that when the leader of the opposition was elected with the government votes it produced good results.
He said that the defeat in the Senate has exposed that the Opposition had just a numerical majority.
