ISLAMABAD: Senate Chairman Mian Raza Rabbani has withdrawn his decision to resign and vowed to continue to serve, while staying at the same position.
This was announced by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar after a meeting with Rabbani at his residence in Islamabad on Saturday.
During the meeting, Dar conveyed the message of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif to Rabbani.
Dar also assured the chairman about the mandatory presence of the ministers during proceedings of Senate. He said all the ministers would be strictly bound to give preference to parliamentary business.
He told that Senate session will start from Monday, for which a notice will be issued on Sunday.
Earlier, Raza Rabbani gave up the Senate chairman’s seat and returned the government protocol in protest against the continuous absence of ministers from Senate sessions and the government’s overall behaviour.
He also postponed the proceedings of the Senate session indefinitely and cancelled his visit to Iran.
While expressing his resentment at the absence of ministers from Senate sessions, Rabbani said that tensions between the federal and provincial governments have continued to increase.
He stated that the government was depriving the Senate of its constitutional rights.
National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq spoke with Rabbani on the telephone and requested that he should not step down as Senate chairman.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Raja Zaffar-ul-Haq stated that efforts will continue to convince Raza Rabbani. No discussion has been held regarding Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s intervention in the matter.
On the other hand, Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Asif Ali Zardari have backed Rabbani’s move, stating that his stance is justified and the party stands with him.
Zardari had also advised Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to personally speak with the Senate chairman.
