ISLAMABAD: In a new twist to the tale of widening gulf between the opposition alliance of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) the refused to allow the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) delegation to join a meeting held to decide the chairpersons of Senate Standing Committees.
A source in PML-N, requesting not being identified, told Pakistan Today that the PML-N delegation, led by Senator Musaddiq Malik, was invited by Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani to join a meeting held with Leader of the House Dr Wasim Shehzad and Leader of the Opposition Yousaf Raza Gilani to decide the division of the chairpersons of the Standing Committees between the treasury and opposition benches.
However, the source said that Musaddiq Malik and others kept waiting outside but were not allowed to come in and join the meeting.
“When we arrived at the invitation of the Senate chairman’s office, we waited for a long time but were not called in. When Dr Musaddiq Malik went in and met the chairman, he found out that a meeting of the leader of the house and leader of the opposition was taking place to decide the chairpersons of the Standing Committees. The leader of the house and the leader of the opposition conveyed to Dr Musaddiq Malik they did not him to join,” the source said.
The source said Musaddiq Malik told that the Senate chairman had formally invited them to join the meeting regarding the standing committees.
It is pertinent here to mention that the PML-N had formed an independent opposition group after Gillani became the leader of the opposition in the upper house.
“It was decided in the meeting with the chairman that all three parties should participate. However, we were very upset. We asked the chairman of the senate how you would run the house,” argued the PML-N leader.
The source said that if the opposition leader did not involve the PML-N then how will the opposition alliance would work.
“If we do not have a role in the opposition then what signal is Gillani is giving us. Should we leave the opposition, avoid coming to the house? How we will participate in Senate proceedings if we are not allowed to exercise our rights?” the PML-N leader argued.
The source said that Senator Musaddiq told the Senate chairman that the PML-N delegation had arrived at the chairman’s invitation and not by force.
“However, we are now told in a message from the leader of the house that you are not needed. Now we will decide for ourselves our future course,” he argued.
Dr Musaddiq said that it was “surprising” that PPP friends said they had nothing to do with the message.
The source said that the Senate chairman told the PML-N delegation that it was a matter between the leader of the house and the leader of opposition.
