The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) has issued show-cause notices to the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Awami National Party (ANP) in relation to the victory of Yousaf Raza Gillani as the Senate opposition leader.
The PDM leadership has asked the PPP to explain why it reportedly approached the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) to seek votes for Gillani. BAP is a coalition partner of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in Centre and Balochistan.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi confirmed that the notices have been issued to the parties with the approval of the PDM president, Maulana Fazlur Rehman.
Talking to reporters outside Parliament House, the PML-N stalwart said that the notices to both parties have been issued. He said that the PPP notice will be sent to Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari whereas the notice to the ANP will be issued to Asfandyar Wali Khan.
PDM Rift
The PML-N and PPP had a falling out after Gillani was appointed as the Senate opposition leader with the alleged support of the Balochistan Awami party (BAP) lawmakers.
Following Gillani’s victory, PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz had called newly-elected Senate Opposition Leader Yousaf Raza Gillani ‘selected’ in the wake of his victory against PML-N candidate Azam Nazir Tarar.
The PML-N leader had said it was disheartening to see that the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) damaged the cause of democracy for a small gain of the Senate slot.
She had said that it was unprecedented that a leader of the opposition was being selected with the support of the lawmakers from the treasury benches i.e. BAP.
Maryam and her party weren’t happy with the nomination of Gillani because they believed that the key slot belonged to the PML-N. However, the PPP and PML-N had reached an impasse and the PPP went ahead to nominate Gillani for the post. Gillani eventually won the seat, resulting in a barrage of allegations against the PPP by the PML-N leadership.
Bilawal had responded to the remarks of the PML-N vice president in the same coin. He questioned the unopposed election of senators from Punjab.
The PPP had chairperson said that some PPP leaders felt that the PPP was being pushed against the wall in the PDM and added that the PDM chief, Maulana Fazlur Rehman and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, never talked to the PPP leadership about the opposition leader seat.
