Some Pakistan People’s Party’s (PPP) lawmakers are reportedly seeking action against six independent senators who voted for senior PPP leader and former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gillani as Opposition Leader in the Senate, but did not support the opposition during the recently-held joint sitting of the Parliament and the Senate in which the opposition faced a setback.
Some PPP leaders have claimed that the six senators are sitting on the opposition benches, but they have in fact supported the government on various occasions.
PPP leader Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, while talking to Dawn said these Senators have betrayed the party on numerous occasions, including during the bills passed through Parliament last week, and hence action should be taken against them. He added that these Senators, led by Dilawar Khan, had taken five standing committee chairmanships from the opposition’s quota.
On the other hand, Yousaf Raza Gilani, Opposition Leader in the upper house of parliament, while talking to Dawn seemed to defend the six senators. He said that the group, although a part of the opposition, was nonetheless a separate entity. He added that they were free to vote on legislative matters other than money bills, constitutional amendments, and vote of no confidence.
He was of the opinion that the party decided to seek support from these senators and hence the decision about their fate will also be taken by the party.
The group of six senators, led by Dilawar Khan, includes Hidayatullah Khan and Hilalur Rehman from the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Ahmed Khan, Kauda Babar, and Naseebullah Bazai from Balochistan. This group supported the government during last week's Senate session where four bills were passed amid protest by the opposition.
Some PPP leaders have claimed that the six senators are sitting on the opposition benches, but they have in fact supported the government on various occasions.
PPP leader Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, while talking to Dawn said these Senators have betrayed the party on numerous occasions, including during the bills passed through Parliament last week, and hence action should be taken against them. He added that these Senators, led by Dilawar Khan, had taken five standing committee chairmanships from the opposition’s quota.
On the other hand, Yousaf Raza Gilani, Opposition Leader in the upper house of parliament, while talking to Dawn seemed to defend the six senators. He said that the group, although a part of the opposition, was nonetheless a separate entity. He added that they were free to vote on legislative matters other than money bills, constitutional amendments, and vote of no confidence.
He was of the opinion that the party decided to seek support from these senators and hence the decision about their fate will also be taken by the party.
The group of six senators, led by Dilawar Khan, includes Hidayatullah Khan and Hilalur Rehman from the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Ahmed Khan, Kauda Babar, and Naseebullah Bazai from Balochistan. This group supported the government during last week's Senate session where four bills were passed amid protest by the opposition.