'Bills will pass only when numbers are met': Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani

Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani stated that bills in the Senate would only pass if the required numbers were met, stating that the pending reforms bill depends on achieving full support.

Speaking to the media, Yousuf Raza Gilani said that making laws is the prerogative of the Parliament, and any decision to support or oppose a bill would be based on the details of the proposed reforms.

He further stated that passing bills is a regular parliamentary process.

Yousuf Raza Gilani reiterated his opposition to Governor Rule, stating that such decisions should only be made under extremely concerning circumstances.

He also dismissed remarks by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on Afghanistan, emphasising that foreign policy is a federal matter and that Gandapur’s statements were not taken seriously.

The Senate Chairman also mentioned ongoing speculations regarding vote counts, confirming that the bill would only proceed when the necessary numbers are secured.

He highlighted the Senate's unanimous resolution condemning the arrest of parliamentary members, urging unity and cooperation for the national interest.

Earlier this month, KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur suggested holding direct dialogue with the Taliban government in Afghanistan by the provincial government.

He proposed the idea of holding a grand jirga (council) between Pakistan and Afghanistan to promote peace.

The K-P chief minister's proposal drew condemnation from the Foreign Office which reminded the chief minister that holding talks with a sovereign state is an exclusive domain of the federal government while Defence Minister Khawaja Asif termed it an attack on the federation.

"Foreign policy is a federal subject, and it is the prerogative of the Government of Pakistan to pursue it," Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said at a weekly briefing.

This came after Gandapur’s announcement to send a K-P delegation to Kabul triggered backlash from Defence Minister Khawaja Asif in the National Assembly.

The Foreign Office’s response was cautious but clear that provincial authorities do not have the mandate for foreign policy.