Islamabad, Pakistan (CU)_ Following the defeat of the government’s nominee Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh to the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) candidate Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani in the Senate elections, the opposition called on Prime Minister Imran Khan to resign honourably. Shortly after the Senate election results were announced, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, the Chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), told PM Imran Khan, “If he (the Prime Minister) has honour, then he should himself resign (from the office). Imran Khan should submit his resignation today as the demand for his resignation is no more only the opposition’s demand but it has now become a demand of the government members as well.”
According to the PPP chairman, Gilani’s win was also an indication of people’s dissatisfaction with the IMF-mandated budget as well as a response to the country’s current price hikes and unemployment. During a press conference at Zardari House, Bilawal spoke to Gilani and other senior party leaders. Furthermore, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Wednesday that after the Senate elections, Prime Minister Imran Khan would request a vote of confidence from Parliament. Following the announcement of the results, the PPP chairman tweeted, “Democracy is the best revenge Jiye Bhutto”.
Thereafter, the other opposition leaders such as Nawaz Sharif, the chief of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), congratulated Gilani in Twitter on his election and called it a glorious victory. Shehbaz Sharif, the president of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the National Assembly’s opposition leader, stated that Gilani’s victory was a sign of no-confidence in Imran Khan’s government. Sharif said, “Those who have destroyed the people and the country’s economy and the vote thieves, sugar thieves and flour thieves have been exposed”. During the meeting of the party’s parliamentary members and senior leaders, Shehbaz Sharif harshly criticized the government, claiming that it is the worst government ever in the country’s history.
PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz also congratulated Gilani and the PDM leadership on Twitter. Maryam tweeted, “Well done the PML-N…. congratulations to PML-N members who upheld the narrative of Nawaz Sharif… future is yours”. Maryam posted another tweet saying, “The fake mandate has been snatched back by the people’s representatives. Their own people, despite the pressure on them, refused to vote for […] (Prime Minister) Imran Khan,” and added, “the PM now had no right to occupy the Prime Minister House. Vote chor (thief), leave the chair.” In the meantime, Gilani expressed gratitude to PDM leaders such as Nawaz Sharif, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Maryam Nawaz, Akhtar Mengal, and others, saying he would visit them to thank in person.
