LAHORE: Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi on Thursday called on Chief Minister Usman Byzdar, for the third time in a month or so, primarily to take up the issues his party lawmakers were facing in their constituencies.

The PML-Q has been comfortable with the chief minister, but, according to insiders, there is a trust deficit between Prime Minister Imran Khan and the leadership of his ally party.

Sources privy to the meeting said that besides discussing PML-Q lawmakers’ issues, the two leaders also reviewed the progress made regarding the Punjab Assembly’s new building and MPAs Hostel construction plan.

“Had N-League’s previous government completed the [construction of the] building started during tenure of Pervaiz Elahi the need to hold the session in a hotel would not have arisen,” the chief minister said and directed the officials concerned to complete the work on the assembly’s new building at the earliest.

Mr Buzdar further said the government was taking its allies along. “With [the help of our] allies we will continue serving the people of the province” he said, adding his government had the “best” working relationship with the PML-Q.

Mr Elahi said the N-League leadership intentionally delayed the new building project. “We are thankful to CM Buzdar for his support regarding construction of new building and hostel. Public money was wasted due to the delay and the construction cost also increased,” he said.

He said his party was fully supporting the Punjab government and those who wanted to create rift among the allies would not succeed.

The PML-Q leadership had not attended the dinner hosted by the prime minister at his Banigala residence in Islamabad over a week ago, reportedly in protest against

Mr Khan’s ‘cold attitude’ towards the party leadership.

Published in Dawn, July 10th, 2020