LAHORE: In the wake of humiliating defeat suffered by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf in the local government polls in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Chief Minister Usman Buzdar and ruling party ally PML-Q’s Punjab chief Chaudhry Parvez Elahi met here on Monday and discussed strategy to contest the upcoming local elections in Punjab.

The two leaders discussed in detail the option of contesting local government elections next year by fielding joint candidates.

The chief minister said the PML-Q was an ally party of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and the alliance must continue the consultation process.

Mr Buzdar said the LG system would practically devolve power to the grassroots level to provide relief to the masses. He said the PTI and its allies’ journey of public service would be accelerated without caring for any criticism.

Mr Elahi said the alliance was moving forward with sincerity.

“We are an ally of the government and will remain so,” he said and added that discussions on launching joint candidates in the upcoming local polls in Punjab would continue.

The chief minister regretted that the opposition was pursuing an agenda that was contrary to the national interest and added that the opposition alliance Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) did not like the national development.

Mr Buzdar said the people needed development and prosperity, instead of anarchy. However, he said, the opposition had disappointed people on every national issue.

“Those engaged in the politics of chaos should keep in view the facts as the people were fully aware of their dual nature,” he said, referring to the opposition.

The chief minister advised the opposition to understand that people could not be served with hollow statements.

“One has to stand with the masses to serve the people,” he said and added that the PTI leadership was standing with the people and it would continue to do so in future as well.

Principal Secretary to CM Aamir Jan, Punjab Assembly Secretary Muhammad Khan Bhatti and others were also present on the occasion.

Meanwhile, PML-N Punjab information secretary Azma Bukhari said the party thought that the government was running away from holding local polls in the province, seeing its defeat was a writing on the wall.

“The Punjab government does not want to hold local body polls, as it knows that the PTI will face a humiliating defeat here,” Ms Bukhari said.

Published in Dawn, December 21st, 2021