GUJRAT: Local PML-Q cadres want senior party leadership to end differences, maintain separate political entity in alliance with the PTI and oppose any sort of cooperation with the ruling PML-N.

They have also opposed reports of merger of a party faction into the PTI and stressed party chief Chaudhary Shujaat Hussain to end cooperation with the PML-N.

These demands were made by the local PML-Q officials and former elected representative mainly belonging to NA-68, the constituency of MNA Chaudhry Hussain Elahi, whose father and former federal minister Chaudhry Wajahat Hussain convened the consultative meeting at the Nutt House here on Monday last.

Most of the participants reportedly endorsed alliance with the PTI like that of the 2018 polls wherein the PTI did not field its candidates from several seats.

Back alliance with PTI but no merger

Saadat Nawaz Ajnala, a former Gujrat tehsil nazim, said alliance with the PML-N was not acceptable to the party workers and supporters.

Backing his view, ex-MPA Khalid Asghar Ghural and some others said since the Sharifs had not honoured their commitments with the Chaudharys in the past, any alliance with them would not be acceptable to them.

Speaking to the participants, Chaudhary Wajahat Hussain vowed to bring the entire family at one platform by June 30.

Sources in party said that a discussion had been underway within the senior party ranks on the offers being made to the party by both the PML-N and PTI.

Reports are rife that the PTI had asked the Q-League led by Chaudhry Parvez Elahi to field his candidates in the next elections from the PTI platform whereas the PML N too had reportedly offered seat adjustment to the PML-Q on all those seats currently held by the latter.

However, both the Q MNAs from Gujrat -- Chaudhry Moonis Elahi and Hussain Elahi -- are in favour of going with the PTI. Sources said Moonis is confident that he could win the PTI support for Q candidates in entire Gujrat and Mandi Bahauddin – on all NA and PA seats.

At a meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz by both the scions of PML-Q chief (Shafay Hussain and federal minister Salik Hussain) on Monday has once again exposed serious differences among the family on party’s future course of action as sources said that a scion of Shujaat Hussain might contest the next elections in cooperation with the PML-N from Gujrat.

Published in Dawn, June 9th, 2022