Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani stated that bills in the Senate will only pass if the necessary votes are secured, emphasizing that the pending reforms bill relies on achieving full support.
In a media briefing, Gilani highlighted that lawmaking is a parliamentary responsibility and decisions to support or oppose a bill will be based on the specifics of the proposed reforms. He described the passage of bills as a routine parliamentary process.
Gilani also reiterated his opposition to Governor Rule, asserting that such measures should only be considered in very serious situations.
He dismissed remarks by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on Afghanistan, noting that foreign policy is a federal matter and Gandapur’s statements were not taken seriously.
The Senate Chairman addressed ongoing speculation about vote counts, confirming that the bill will advance only when the required numbers are met.
Gilani underscored the Senate’s unanimous resolution condemning the arrest of parliamentary members, calling for unity and cooperation for national interests.
Earlier this month, KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur proposed direct dialogue with the Taliban government in Afghanistan and suggested a grand jirga between Pakistan and Afghanistan to promote peace. This proposal was met with criticism from the Foreign Office and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who stressed that foreign policy is the exclusive domain of the federal government.
The Foreign Office clarified that provincial authorities do not have the mandate for foreign policy, following Gandapur’s announcement of sending a K-P delegation to Kabul, which was criticized by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif as an attack on the federation.
