Tag: PMLQ

  • Asif Zardari meets with PML-Q President Shujaat Hussain ahead of elections

    Asif Zardari meets with PML-Q President Shujaat Hussain ahead of elections

    In a significant development in the lead-up to general elections, PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari met with PML-Q president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain at the latter’s residence on Thursday, hours after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced the last week of January as the election date. Election strategies including the possibility of forming an alliance and coordinated seat allocations in Punjab were discussed in the meeting.

    The 40-minute meeting focused on the current political landscape of Pakistan with Zardari also inquiring about Sujaat’s health. While official details of their discussions were not disclosed, PPP’s central media cell took to X (former Twitter) to confirm the meeting, stating that Mr. Zardari had discussed the prevailing political situation with PML-Q President Shujaat Hussain.

    As per the empowerment given to Zardari by the PPP executive committee to meet top political leaders to secure seat adjustments in Punjab, he has strategically positioned himself in Lahore to spearhead his efforts.

    On the other hand, PMLN President Shehbaz Sharif and Chief Organizer Maryam Nawaz will meet party leader Nawaz Sharif in London to discuss the changing political situation and to formulate election strategies.

    Sources have told Dawn that PPP is considering seat adjustments not only with PML-N and PML-Q but also with PTI, as hinted at by its second-tier leadership. While senior PML-N leaders have maintained silence on the possibility of an alliance with PPP, lower-ranking leaders have expressed their opposition, arguing that the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) was created with the sole purpose of removing Imran Khan from power and completing the remainder of the previous government’s term.

    Shujaat also suggested his former coalition allies, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), to avoid confrontations that he believes are detrimental to the country’s interests.

    In response to Shujaat’s call for unity and harmony, Zardari asserted that his party had not contributed to any actions that could exacerbate political divisions. Zardari went on to emphasize that his party’s discourse was firmly anchored in constitutional principles and the ground realities of Pakistan, with no intentions of provoking confrontations with any political entities. Zardari further underscored the detrimental impact of escalating rhetoric and confrontations on the stability of the country.

    Chaudhry Shujaa also conveyed his intention to engage with Nawaz Sharif, the supreme leader of the PML-N, to emphasize the need to avert unnecessary political hostilities.

    Thursday’s meeting saw the presence of former federal minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain and PML-Q Punjab President Chaudhry Shafay Hussain. At this crucial juncture of alliance exploration, PPP General Secretary Nayyer Hussain Bukhari firmly announced that the party had no intentions of entering into electoral alliances with any other party.

  • ECP will keep an eye on election campaigns and expenses

    ECP will keep an eye on election campaigns and expenses

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has said on Thursday that it will keep an eye on election campaigns and expenses in the upcoming general elections, stating that the decision has been taken after consultations with political parties.

    According to ECP, the services of the army, police, and other law enforcement agencies will be sought to ensure a safe and peaceful environment at polling stations.

    The electoral watchdog has said that this matter came up in the meeting about the upcoming general elections with Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) and Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid-i-Azam) PML(Q)

    Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja, ECP secretary, and other senior officers were part of the meeting.

    The TLP’s delegation comprised of party leaders Chaudhry Rizwan, Mohammad Qasim, Ziaur Rahman, and Chaudhry Azhar, whereas the PML-Q was represented by Mohammad Tariq Hussain, Farukh Khan, Ghulam Mustafa, Rizwan Sadiq, and Hafiz Aqeel Jalil.

  • Pervaiz Elahi’s cousin Wajahat withdraws his support in aftermath of May 9

    Pervaiz Elahi’s cousin Wajahat withdraws his support in aftermath of May 9

    Former Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Pervaiz Elahi’s cousin Chaudhry Wajahat Hussain has announced that he is withdrawing support for his Elahi over the May 9 episode in which Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) allegedly attacked military installations and government buildings.

    In a press conference in Lahore, Hussain condemned the violent protests of May 9, saying that some people in his family took poor decisions. “They will soon realise their mistakes,” he said.

    Referring to the patriarch of the clan, Wajahat said that Chaudhry Shujaat will welcome whoever wants to come back to Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), adding that the coming time would unite the Chaudhry family. “It is possible that whoever created misunderstandings is the one fixing them,” he said cryptically.

    Wajahat Hussain also advised Elahi’s son Moonis Elahi, a vocal proponent of PTI, to return to the PML-Q.

    Earlier this year, Wajahat Hussain, who is also the younger brother of PML-Q Chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, had sworn allegiance to Elahi when the latter left the PML-Q and joined PTI.

    A day earlier, Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif went to the PML-Q chief’s home to meet him. Reportedly, Pervez Elahi left the house on the premier’s arrival. Both cousins live in adjacent houses in the same compound.

    According to Geo News, Elahi isn’t in contact with anyone since last night.

  • Pervaiz Elahi facing arrest for irregular hiring of 200 Punjab Assembly employees

    Pervaiz Elahi facing arrest for irregular hiring of 200 Punjab Assembly employees

    Former Punjab Chief Minister (CM) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) President Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi is likely to be arrested for irregular recruitments in the Punjab Assembly without following rules and regulations.

    Reportedly, the anti-corruption department is keeping an eye on the case while the government has completed an inquiry against him.

    The former Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader is alleged to have recruited 200 people in the assembly when he was the speaker of the House and when he became CM.

    On January 12, Elahi, as CM Punjab, signed a summary for the dissolution of the provincial assembly on the directives of PTI Chairman Imran Khan. Later, he and his son Moonis Elahi joined Khan’s party following a fallout with his cousin and PML-Q Chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain.

  • Pervaiz Elahi ko humnay aisay rakha hai jaisay handi mein masala, says Fawad Chaudhry

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry spoke disparagingly against party president Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi.

    Fawad Chaudhry said that Elahi is not a public favourite, rather he is someone who does politics with the powerful.

    Fawad further said that every party has a ‘handi’ [cooked dish] in which different spices are added, and he [Pervaiz Elahi] is also an important spice.

    It is pertinent to mention here that the former Chief Minister of Punjab, Elahi, has recently parted ways with Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) and joined PTI.

    The rift between Elahi and Chaudhry seems to continue as in the past the party president had spoken in favour of Fawad’s arrest and later apologised for his statement.

  • Imran confirms Pervaiz Elahi is now President of PTI

    Imran confirms Pervaiz Elahi is now President of PTI

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has confirmed in a speech that his party has “honoured” Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Pervaiz Elahi for standing with the party and appointed him as the President of PTI.

    Addressing his followers through a video link on Thursday, the PTI chief started off by claiming that the establishment pressurised Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q). “They even were offered money and were threatened that there is no future for them with PTI”, he said.

    Stating that despite all this, the father and son stayed loyal, Imran Khan appreciated Pervaiz Elahi and Moonis Elahi for their efforts, especially for dissolving the Punjab Assembly on Khan’s directives.

    “Despite all the pressure, he agreed to a merger. We told him [Elahi] that we are honouring him by making him the president of the party,” Khan said.

    On Tuesday, Moonis and his father formally joined PTI with ten other former Members of the Provincial Assembly (MPA) of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q).

    On the same day, addressing a press conference in Lahore alongside PTI Vice President Fawad Chaudhry, Elahi said he had stood with Khan during “hard and testing times”. Fawad also announced that Pervaiz Elahi will be the President of PTI.

    PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain dismissed Elahi from his party post and terminated his basic membership on Tuesday.

  • ‘Why were there two black Vigos?’: Elahi family slams govt after raid on Gujrat house

    Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid’s (PML-Q) and former Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Pervaiz Elahi has condemned the raid on his family house ‘Kunjah Gujrat’ and held the incumbent government responsible.

    In a tweet, he claimed that the staff at their house was harassed in the middle of the night. The former CM also threatened the caretaker government with legal action and said that the matter will go to court.

    Addressing Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif and caretaker CM Punjab Mohsin Naqvi directly in another tweet, Elahi urged Shehbaz to “respect the sanctity of the home” and warned him that “people would protest outside his own home”. To Naqvi, he said that his job is to ensure fair and transparent elections

    He also regretted that “the rulers have directed police and administration to engage in vengeful actions” while the country is dealing with terrorism.

    Earlier in the day, his son and former federal minister Moonis Elahi claimed that his family home in Gujrat was raided by the police in the early hours of Wednesday “without having a warrant, nor a case”.

    Implying that intelligence agencies were involved in the raid, he said “I can wrap my head around the 25 police vehicles, but why were there two black Vigos?”.

    Moonis then asked if the police were looking for Indian agents.

    The raid has taken place after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday declared that PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain would remain the president of the party months weeks after he was ousted following rifts with his cousin Pervaiz Elahi.

    Earlier, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) accused the caretaker Punjab government of ‘political persecution’.

  • ECP declares Shujaat PML-Q president

    ECP declares Shujaat PML-Q president

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has restored Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain as the President of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) setting aside his removal as the head of the party by his cousin, former Chief Minister (CM) of Punjab, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi.

    The commission also stated that the PML-Q’s Central Working Committee’s (CWC) decision to remove Shujaat as party chief was illegal, declaring it null and void.

    On January 16, PML-Q’s CWC removed Shujaat as the party chief. His brother, Chaudhry Wajahat Hussain was given the command of the PML-Q.

    The step was taken by the committee after Shujaat had suspended the basic membership of the-then CM Elahi — for his statement about a possible merger with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

    After the ouster of PTI’s chief Imran Khan from power, rifts within PML-Q widened as the party got divided into two camps over the issue of joining hands with the PTI and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)

    Elahi, his son Moonis Elahi and the majority of party leaders sided with the PTI while Chaudhry Shujaat, Salik Hussain and Tariq Bashir Cheema supported the PML-N.

  • PML-Q wants seats from PTI to merge into the party

    PML-Q wants seats from PTI to merge into the party

    Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Pervaiz Elahi has put forward a set of conditions to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) if they want a merger with his party, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q).

    The chief minister has asked for seat adjustments in Gujrat, Chakwal, and Gujranwala divisions from PTI in the next general elections which are likely to take place within the year.

    Samaa has reported that Elahi has even asked for a written agreement of the deal from PTI chief Imran Khan.

    Elahi has categorically stated that without any significant political benefit, the PML-Q will not unite with the PTI.

    However, senior leaders of PTI have opposed Elahi’s demands for half of the seats in the aforementioned divisions.

    Earlier, Khan had proposed that PML-Q should merge with it as the Elahis showed immense support to him in the Punjab Assembly dissolution process.

    After this, PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain suspended Elahi’s party membership, making it difficult for Elahi to merge his party with PTI.

    Subsequently, Elahi clarified that no final decision has been taken yet on a merger, saying that consultations are still underway.

  • ‘Us ne hmein test kiya, ab us ki bari’: Khan says vote of confidence will be tabled against PM Shehbaz

    ‘Us ne hmein test kiya, ab us ki bari’: Khan says vote of confidence will be tabled against PM Shehbaz

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, in an exclusive interview on Saturday, said that Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif will be tested through a no-confidence motion.

    Speaking on Hum News’ programme Hum Meher Bokhari Kay Sath, Khan said, “Uss ne humein test keeya, abb uski baari” (He tested us, now it is his turn).

    He said the party would hash out the details of the move in a meeting on Sunday (today) and carry out planning for not only the trust vote but also “other plans to fully thrust them in a testing situation now”.

    When asked about the late-night voting on a confidence vote in Punjab Assembly, Khan said not many people knew this would happen at night, his party kept it secret. According to him, the party completed the numbers first without any bribes and horsetrading and then took the vote of confidence.

    The PTI chief also praised the way Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) stood behind the PTI and supported it. “The way Elahi is standing with us, there was immense appreciation in the party. He was the chief minister and made a real sacrifice. We are recommending he merges the party with ours.”

    About the KP assembly, he said that it will be dissolved within a week.

    During the interview, Khan mentioned that he spent his three and a half years in power in difficulty because his government was a coalition. He said that’s why his party has insisted on a merger between PTI and PML-Q.

    The former prime minister said that PM Shehbaz’s conference in Geneva was equivalent to making fun of Pakistan. He warned that there will be consequences to it in the future.

    Opening up about the extension given to former army chief General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa, he termed it his “mistake”. He revealed that at the time Bajwa himself sent a message that if he doesn’t get an extension, it will be difficult for him [Bajwa].

    He said that after securing the extension Bajwa changed as he begun asking Khan to give NROs to the Opposition.