KARACHI: Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has said that a grand alliance of opposition parties is the need of the hour. If opposition parties unite, general elections could be called before time, but if they fail to do so, the PML-N government would easily complete its five-year term.

The PML-Q chief was talking to the media here on Monday after offering condolences to the bereaved family of Junaid Jamshed, the pop singer-turned-preacher who died in the air crash near Havelian.

Responding to questions, he said the opposition parties had not yet been able to unite because of mutual mistrust and the government had taken advantage of this. He said a grand alliance of opposition could be possible only if the parties had good intentions.

When asked if he had talked with PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari about the formation of an alliance, Chaudhry Shujaat said it was no longer an issue of the PPP and the PML-Q but all parties had to join together to form a grand alliance to steer the country out of crisis.

He said that for this purpose when Mr Zardari would be visiting Lahore next week, they would have further consultation about it and discuss launching of an anti-government movement. He further said that during the meeting they discussed the political situation prevailing in the country, need for an opposition alliance and the PPP’s four demands. He also extended invitation to Mr Zardari to visit Lahore.

The PML-Q chief said he hoped that soon consultation with opposition parties for the formation of an alliance would be initiated.

In reply to another question, he said a joint strategy would be chalked out in a way to ensure that democracy should not be derailed.

Answering another question, he said elections without electoral reforms would be meaningless and the electoral reforms committee would become meaningless.

He said he had not read any statement of Imran Khan about the Supreme Court but “we all have faith in the judiciary because this is the only institution left to get justice and the entire nation also has faith in the apex court”.

About his visit to the residence of Junaid Jamshed, the PML-Q chief said that Junaid Jamshed was a great human being and he had old ties with him. He said he expected a transparent inquiry into the tragic Havelian incident.

Published in Dawn, December 27th, 2016