GUJRAT: The Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid do not see any threat to its importance in the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf-led coalition government in Punjab as well as in the Centre due to emergence of a “forward bloc” within the opposition PML-N after a number of ‘N’ lawmakers reportedly called on Prime Minister Imran Khan last week.

A senior PML-Q leader requesting anonymity said the party had been calmly observing the recent developments following a meeting of some disgruntled PML-N MPAs and MNAs belonging to Punjab.

“We don’t see any threat to the party’s position in the coalition government, particularly in Punjab, as constitutionally a dissident member of the assembly could neither vote for the approval of finance bill, nor for the election of leader of the house against his/her party’s policy, whereas such members could not even abstain [from voting], while being present in the house,” said the Q leader.

He said in case a lawmaker violated his/her party policy in the house, he/she might lose the seat and face disqualification whereas the house might also have to go for another voting if the dissident’s vote was declared null and void for violating the party discipline.

Accuses South Punjab Suba Mahaz members of the move

He said the PML-Q would never support the idea of creating a forward bloc in the opposition parties as the party had itself been a victim of such tactics in the past when the Shahbaz Sharif government in Punjab had created a forward bloc in the Q. Such ploys had never been in the best interest of democracy and democratic norms, he added.

When asked who in the PTI had been orchestrating such moves aimed at limiting the importance of the PML-Q in Punjab, he said the elements who had previously been part of the Janoobi Punjab Suba Mahaz (South Punjab province front) that later on merged into the PTI, were actually employing these tactics as most of the lawmakers who had reportedly met with the premier were from south Punjab.

However, he said some of these assembly members had already denied being part of any forward bloc, he said and advised those who wanted to leave the PML-N to first tender their resignations and then join the PTI or any other party of their choice to contest by-elections.

To a question, he said the Q delegation led by party chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain that had called on the prime minister recently, did not complain about the unfulfilled promises the PTI had made to the party while forging an alliance with it.

However, he said the Q’s reservations regarding the introduction of the new local govenment system in Punjab had already been conveyed to the PTI leadership as the party had not been taken into confidence in this regard.

He said that as per the commitment made by the party chief, the PML Q would continue “unconditional support” of the PTI governments in Punjab and the Centre.

Published in Dawn, July 4th, 2019