Islamabad, Jan 31 (Asia Free Press): Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Yousuf Raza Gilani announced on Monday that he had resigned as the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate during a speech in the upper house of Pakistan parliament, according to local media.
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, reported Dawn.
In an indirect reference to his absence from Friday’s session, Gilani said “some turncoats” were accusing him of helping the government.
“I am not astonished by the harsh words from my opponents, but I am astonished by the silence of my well-wishers,” he said.
“If ministers would have said something [of this sort], it would have been an honour for me. But some turncoats are saying that I helped the government and I am saying that [the government] won because of your votes.”
He concluded his brief speech by stating that he had already sent his resignation to his party and he no longer wanted to be the Senate opposition leader. However, it remained unclear whether his resignation had been accepted.
