On Wednesday, PML-Q senior leader Chaudhry Parvez Elahi extended an olive branch to the PTI government, with which the party is an ally in the Centre and Punjab, only a day after making his qualms about Prime Minister Imran Khan known.
Elahi said that now was not the time for government officials to intimidate MPs from the opposition and allies over the no-trust vote.
“We are allies, as well as a separate political force.”
“Differing parties have different points of view, but decisions are reached via mutual communication,” the PML-Q Punjab President said in a statement released here on Wednesday.
Following a series of frantic appointments in the capital, Punjab Assembly Speaker Elahi returned to Lahore and expressed his support for the government at a crucial time when the joint opposition’s no-confidence motion will be tabled in the National Assembly on March 28. Opposition is seeking support from ruling party lawmakers and allies.
On Monday, the capital will see the start of the next round of tense political activity.
Mr Elahi described Prime Minister Khan as an “honest” guy.
“We have neither quit the government nor joined the opposition,” he clarified, attempting to defuse the government-PML-Q feud.
He said that his party has been highlighting people’s difficulties since the beginning and that it is in the government’s best interests to consult its partners.
Mr Elahi said the PTI had failed to keep its promises to his party in an interview broadcast on Hum News on Tuesday night. “They’re no longer children… they’ve grown up. People will not trust them unless they at least correct their track record,” he stated.
“Will you be changing pampers for the rest of his life?” he questioned figuratively.
He also stated that the PTI government’s three partners — the PML-Q, the MQM-P, and the BAP — were on the same page and had resolved to take united action amid the present political upheaval following a series of meetings.
He also informed the interviewer that the Jehangir Tareen group had the backing of a significant number of MNAs and MPAs and that the party’s primary goal was to unseat Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar.
Khattak comments against PML-Q
Defence Minister Pervaiz Khattak allegedly encouraged the PML-Q to join up with the PML-N if the opposition party granted Mr Elahi the office of Punjab chief minister, the governing party reportedly sparked yet another controversy. “When a party with five seats wants the chief ministership of the country’s largest province, it’s equivalent to extortion,” he claimed.
However, when PML-Q federal minister Moonis Elahi asked for an explanation through Twitter, Mr Khattak quickly reversed his comments, tweeting, “I have released no statement to the media against PML-Q or Parvez Elahi.” Daily, I communicate with our allies.”
“Thank you!” Moonis said.
Meanwhile, placards reading “Punjab ki majboori hai – Chaudhry Parvez Elahi wazir-i-aala zaroori hai” were spotted being hoisted in Lahore (It is a compulsion for Punjab that Mr Elahi is the Punjab chief minister).
When challenged about the banners, Mr Elahi said they were taken down within 10 minutes of being up, and he evaded a question regarding who could have erected them.
Works at The Truth International Magazine. My area of interest includes international relations, peace & conflict studies, qualitative & quantitative research in social sciences, and world politics. Reach@ [email protected]
