Federal Minister for Defence Production Abdul Qayyum Khan Jatoi, who has resigned from the federal cabinet after defeat of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) candidate in the by-elections on Saturday from the constituency belonging to his district, has refused to revise his decision.
Talking to newsmen at his residence in Jatoi (Muzaffargarh district) on Monday, he said he could serve his constituents better in his capacity as a member of the National Assembly. "I took the decision on principles and there is no need to revise it," he added.
He said when he heard about the defeat of his candidate Samiullah Leghari, he decided to step down and faxed his resignation to the Prime Minister's House. He has already relieved his staff. He declined to comment on the statement of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Sunday in which Jatoi had been asked to withdraw his resignation. "I have mailed my resignation," he said. He was of the view that since he lost the election, he would accept the responsibility. "I can give more time to my constituency by staying as a member of the National Assembly. It would not be proper to stick to the office after suffering a political defeat in hometown like this. It could harm the working as a minister if I opt to stay in the office," Abdul Qayyum Khan Jatoi said in resolute manner.
In fact Samiullah Leghari's brother was awarded the ticket from the PPP, but he was disqualified by the Election Commission and Sami had to contest instead of him with the support of the party, Jatoi said.
He parried a question about revising his decision in case he is asked by President Asif Zardari to do so. In the meanwhile, sources told this reporter that Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, who has returned to the federal capital after three days stay in Lahore, has called his cabinet colleagues who will be coming to Islamabad next week to meet the high ups of his party and the prime minister. Interestingly the premier took part in the campaign of two candidates belonging to PPP for the National Assembly in recent days and both the candidates have won.
The sources pointed out that Abdul Qayyum Khan Jatoi was the eighth minister of Yousuf Raza Gilani's two-year-old cabinet who had tendered resignation on various counts including principle differences with the president and the party leadership.