LAHORE: The Chaudhrys of Gujrat and Dr Tahirul Qadri have affirmed the PML-N government is “illegitimate and unconstitutional” because it had come to power “through rigging”.

Pakistan Awami Tehrik chief Dr Qadri and PML-Q leaders Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Pervaiz Elahi and Moonis Elahi agreed to join hands to launch a struggle for “devolution of power” after a meeting in London on Friday.

“The leadership of the two parties has decided to contact other parties to force the government to introduce electoral reforms and provide relief to the masses,” Moonis Elahi told Dawn after the meeting.

Asked about the likelihood of a meeting of the PML-Q leaders and Dr Qadri with Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan in London, he said: “No meeting with Imran Khan has been scheduled in London. The PML-Q and the PTI have already formed a committee to prepare recommendations on electoral reforms. The leadership of the two parties will meet after the recommendations are finalised.”

Dr Qadri said he would return to Pakistan next month to launch a movement.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, he said: “The masses should be provided rights enshrined in the constitution. The country is facing a crisis and has become a kingdom of one family. There is a need for doing away with concentration of power.”

He said a grand anti-government alliance had not yet been formed but his party had started contacting other parties for the purpose.

Chaudhry Shujaat said: “we have asked Dr Qadri to play a role in the current scenario.” The present system and corruption were “mothers of all ills” the PML-Q chief added.

In an apparent reference to certain statements made by some ministers, he said: “To talk against the army is to talk against Pakistan.”

Pervaiz Elahi said the PML-N government was raring to “wage a war” against the army as the ministers have launched a tirade against it.

He warned that the country could be harmed if the parties loyal to it did not unite.

The leader of opposition in the National Assembly, Khursheed Shah, said political partitas had a right to form a grand alliance.

“There is no harm in the formation of a political alliance because it is a part of democratic process,” Punjab PPP President Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo said.

Published in Dawn, May 31st, 2014