Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) Chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has come forward and clarified why he backed out at the last moment and opposed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chief Minister (CM) slot nominee — his cousin and party leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi.
The PML-Q chief said that he could not support “anyone who criticised state institutions”, adding that he has had relations with institutions for the last 30 to 40 years, which is why Pervaiz Elahi could not be PTI’s candidate.
The PML-Q leader said that there is stability in Pakistan until there are institutions. He is of the view that using abusive language against institutions cannot be tolerated as institutions consider the integrity of the country their duty.
He also clarified that Elahi “was, is and would remain” his candidate for the office of the chief minister, however, he [Shujaat] could not allow him to become “the nominee of PTI”.
In a series of tweets, Hussain made these revelations. According to PML-Q leader and Elahi’s son Moonis, the Twitter account does indeed belong to the PML-Q chief and is operated by his son, Chaudhry Salik Hussain.
In his tweets, Shujaat Hussain suggested that “all political leaders’ personal interests should be subordinate to national interests so that the country could come out of this quagmire”.
Moonis Elahi also claimed that Shujaat was under “immense pressure” and that’s why refused to support Pervaiz Elahi as a candidate for Imran Khan. Talking to the media, Moonis said he had gone to see Shujaat Hussain and asked whether he had written the letter to which he replied that he did.
According to Moonis, Shujaat told him that he has instructed the PML-Q MPAs not to vote for anyone in the chief minister’s election.
