LAHORE, Oct 26: Having a lenient attitude towards rebellion within the ranks of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) so far, the Chaudhrys of Gujrat have decided to take a tough stance against rebels from now on and activate the party that is into a slumber since its defeat in the Feb 18 election.

Seeing that constitutional bars are preventing forward bloc members from joining either the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) or the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and they are left with no option, Chaudhry Shujaat Husain and his cousin Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi have resolved not to be ‘blackmailed’ by ‘rebels’ and give a tit-for-tat response to their ‘maligning’ media campaigns.

Opposition leader in the Punjab Assembly Chaudhry Zaheeruddin’s outburst against forward bloc member, MNA Riaz Fatyana, should be seen in this context.

To show their sway and popularity within the party ranks, an informal meeting, a sort of Eid Milan, of female MPAs was convened at the residence of Pervaiz Elahi this Saturday when Salim Saifullah, PML-Q leader from NWFP, who, led by Hamid Nasir Chathha, is reportedly cooking a revolt against the Chaudhrys, was to visit him (Pervaiz Elahi). Leaders from various wings of the party had also been invited to the gathering.

However, Mr Saifullah did not turn up and Pervaiz Elahi used the occasion to ‘remove’ MPAs’ reservations about the leaders of the possible ‘coup’ against him and his cousin.

The meeting participants were told that the ‘mutineer’ impression of Mr Chathha and others was being given by the elements who had always been working against the PML-Q interests. They were told that statements by some disgruntled elements should be seen in the light of their vested interests (getting development funds for their constituencies and other such facilities).

The party leadership decided to organise more events to negate the impression that the party was confined to the assemblies and that its elected representatives had no contact with the masses. The job, it was told, was so far being ignored because of the deteriorated law and order situation.

A meeting of the party elders is scheduled to be held in the city on Monday (today) to chalk out a strategy and calendar in this respect.—Amjad Mahmood