LAHORE, Oct 11: The PML(Q) firmly believes that being the single largest party in Punjab, it will be able to form its government in the province with Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi as its head.
Unofficial results, gathered by the party through its own sources, give the party superiority over its major rivals, the People’s Party Parliamentarians and the Pakistan Muslim League (N).
“There is just no comparison between the PML(QA) and its adversaries,” the party sources said on Friday, making it clear that no other party would be in a position to form government in the country’s largest province. However, he added, the party’s plan to form its government at the centre under the leadership of Mian Mohammad Azhar was overturned as the former Punjab governor lost both the NA seats he was contesting.
Elahi Bukhsh Soomro was another candidate for the coveted office of the prime minister, but he too was defeated, making it still more difficult for the party to choose a new leader capable of forming government.
Top leaders will be meeting in the next few days to review the situation to decide the party’s future course of action.
To be able to gain comfortable majority in the National Assembly, the PML(Q) has started establishing contacts with all independents elected from various provinces. Former interior minister Chaudhry Shujaat Husain, is making contacts on behalf of the party.
Party sources say the PPP and the PML-N will not be approached for a coalition as the military authorities will not approve of such a move. President Pervez Musharraf will not like the PML(QA) join hands with the two former ruling parties, the sources said.
The Punjab Assembly has a total of 371 seats, including 297 general, 66 for women and eight for minorities. Any aspirant of the top slot in Punjab will require support of at least 186 MPAs.
Meanwhile, Mian Azhar on Friday accepted the election results, saying he had no complaint against the regime or the electorate. “It’s the people’s verdict, and I accept it”, he said at his residence.
