Gilanis' London visit not govt-funded, MNA Qasim says

LONDON: Former prime minister and Senate Chairman Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani's son and Pakistan Peoples Party's (PPP) National Assembly lawmaker Syed Ali Qasim Gilani has said he and his family are on a private visit to London, paying their own expenses and not costing a penny to Pakistani taxpayers.

PPP’s Member of National Assembly (MNA) from NA-148 (Multan-I) told Geo News he and his family have been targeted with fake news with claims that the whole family is in London at the government's expense and that Yousaf chose to take his two MNA sons — Ali Qasim Gilani and Abdul Qadir Gilani as well as daughter Fiza Batool Gilani — to London on the govt expense.

Gilanis have made history as Yousaf is now a senator of PPP and his three sons are MNAs and the fourth son Ali Haider Gilani is a member of the Punjab Assembly (MPA).

Ali regretted that media persons targeted his family through fake and unverified news.

He said: "My wife is a British national and my in-laws live in London. I studied here 10 years ago and have been visiting London every year for over 15 years, whether in government or opposition. We have a history of international travel for decades. We have never used govt money for our private travel."

He said he will resign if its proven that he is holidaying in London at the govt expense. "I will resign from my seat if it's proven I took the government money."

Ali alleged that her opponent Mehr Bano Qureshi made false allegations against him during a PTI event in the House of Lords last week with Zulfi Bukhari.

"Mehr Bano alleged she lost because of rigging. She has forgotten that her father lost to us in 2018 but won through fraud. She campaigned against me; her brother heavily invested against us but the people of Multan voted for us because they trust us. Mehr Bano sat with anti-Pakistan MPs and slandered Pakistan. This is unacceptable."

Yousaf's daughter Fiza said she was in London for her son's graduation. She wrote on X: "Today, my heart swells with pride as my son Mohammad Asfandyar graduates from King’s College, Alhamdolillah! Your hard work & perseverance have culminated in this incredible achievement. As a single mother, witnessing your success is a profound joy. Congratulations, my son!"

Meanwhile, the Senate chairman said that Pakistan greatly values its bilateral relations with the United Kingdom (UK) and desires to further expand the bilateral relations to new levels for mutual benefit. He expressed these views in a meeting with the Speaker of the House of Commons HE Lindsay Hoyle during his visit to the UK.

Senate Chairman Yousaf was accompanied by Senators Agha Shahzeb Durrani, Faisal Salim Rehman, Ashraf Ali Jatoi and Members of the National Assembly, Syed Abdul Qadir Gilani and Syed Qasim Ali Gilani.

During the meeting, in his opening remarks, Yousaf highlighted the historical and cultural ties that both sides have enjoyed since long and said that the historical bond between the two has paved the way for deepening political, diplomatic, economic ties and people to people contacts.

He further observed that these ties were further strengthened by the Pakistani diaspora, which was acting as a bridge between Pakistan and UK, thus providing a solid foundation for a dynamic and prosperous partnership.

The Senate chairman also highlighted the issue of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). He said that Pakistan valued British MPs' role in highlighting human right abuses in the occupied valley in the UK Parliament.