LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) senior leader Ahsan Iqbal said Yousaf Raza Gillani’s application for Opposition Leader in the Senate is a blow for the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM).

Addressing a press conference, Ahsan Iqbal flanked by Rana Sanaullah said Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) should have told PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif if the post of the opposition leader was indispensable for it.

While announcing to raise the matter in the PDM meeting, the PML-N leader stressed that the one who betrayed the PDM’s cause will pay heavy price. PDM parties had announced support for Azam Nazeer Tarar for the opposition leader and 27 Senators had confirmed to vote for him, he said.

Ahsan Iqbal said the people of Pakistan want the end of this game of musical chairs which has been ongoing for 72 years. PDM is the only hope of 220 million citizens, he added.

It is pertinent here to mention that PPP’s Yousaf Raza Gillani has been appointed as Leader of the Opposition in Upper House of the Parliament today with support of 30 senators which included 21 from PPP, two from Awami National Party (ANP), one from Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), two members of former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and four senators from Dilawar Khan’s independent group.

The notification issued by Senate Secretariat read, "In pursuance of Rule 16 (3) of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Senate 2012, the Chairman Senate has been pleased to declare Senator Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani as Leader of the Opposition in the Senate with effect from March 26, 2021.” NNI