ISLAMABAD, Jan 31 (APP): Leader of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and leader of opposition in the Senate, Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani on Monday announced his resignation from the post of Leader of the Opposition in the Senate.
Speaking on Point of Order in the Senate, he alleged, the due procedure had not been followed in the passage of the State Bank bill by the government.
He said that as per the past practice any bill introduced in the house used to send in the concerned committee for further deliberation and consideration.
He said that debate had not been allowed on this important bill. He said that it was not appropriate to put the bill on the agenda at the night.
Gillani said that Chairman Senate and NA Speaker were custodians of the houses and their role should be neutral.
He said that as the Leader of the Opposition he had tendered his resignation to the party and did not want to remain in the Senate.
Leader of the House in the Senate Dr. Shazad Waseem said that government had nothing to do with the presence of the leader of the Opposition in the Senate but was thankful to him for not attending January 27 meeting.
He said that there was no restriction to bring any supplementary agenda in the House.
He said that argument of the opposition leader was not correct regarding the introduction of the State Bank bill on the other day.
He said that Chairman Senate being the custodian of the House should run the house as per the rules. He said that using personal vote was the right of the Chairman Senate. He said that the house could not be run by picking and choosing but as per the rules.
The leader of the House thanked all the Senators for voting in favor of the bill and those who were not present in the House on that day.
Taking part in debate, Senator Faisal Javed Khan said that there was no need of explanation from Leader of the Opposition in the Senate as he done a great job to skip the Senate meeting on January 27.
He said that whenever Prime Minister Imran Khan had got victory, opposition parties were facing issues like division in Pakistan Democratic Movement.
He thanked Senate members for support in the bill and those who were not attended the meeting on January 27 including Opposition Leader in the Senate.
Speaking on point of order, Pakhtoonkhwa Mili Awami Party Senator Shafique Tareen said that he also missed January 27 meeting due to his party activity in Quetta.
He said that he was conveyed in late hours which were not possible to return from Quetta and attend meeting.
He said that he had served as Senator for four years and his party was part of Opposition. He said that his party name was also criticized in media but we were part of opposition and he missed Senate meeting on January 27 due to party activity.
Parliamentary Leader Awami National Party Senator Haji Hidayatullah Khan said that his party was also criticized despite his party two members voted against the Bill. He said that in this regard a media campaign was carried against his party.
Senator Dilawar Khan Independent group said that they were not part of government or opposition. He said that government requested his group for the support in the bill which they accepted in the best interest of the country.
