GUJRAT: Former federal minister Chaudhry Wajahat Hussain claims the sons of PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain have sought dollars from PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari for supporting the present coalition government led by the PML-N.

“It’s a scar on our family’s political stature that our scions can stoop so low in electoral politics,” he told a meeting of party workers from Gujrat city at the Zahoor Elahi House here on Friday.

Shujaat’s son Salik Hussain is presently a federal minister while Shafay Hussain is reportedly seeking some role in the provincial set-up. Wajahat claimed Salik had already obtained money while his younger brother had been given an assurance by the PPP leader.

Presently in the Parvez Elahi camp, Wajahat Hussain commands influence at the local level in Gujrat and works behind the scenes to strengthen the party.

Wajahat alleges Shujaat’s sons have sought dollars from Zardari, asks party chief to withdraw support for PML-N by 30th

Talking to Dawn later, Wajahat said he had asked Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain to decide about parting ways with the ruling PML-N until June 30 as an overwhelming majority of party workers and lawmakers were against joining hands with the Nawaz League.

He said since workers and supporters were in favour of a seat adjustment with the PTI, the party should say goodbye to the PML-N.

Quoting Shujaat’s message for workers that the party would stay united, Wajahat said workers could not be misled in a scenario where one member (Salik) was moving in a police escort while the other (Moonis) was being hounded by FIA and police.

Asked about his younger brother Ch Shafaat Hussain’s plan to contest from NA-69, the constituency currently being held by MNA Moonis Elahi, he said Shafaat was free to do whatever he wanted.

Shafaat, the youngest brother of Shujaat, had distanced himself from the entire family after differences with cousin Parvez Elahi in awarding tickets for the 2016 local bodies elections.

Wajahat said he had organised a consultative meeting of party workers in Gujrat on the direction of party chief and would convey the concerns of local party workers to Shujaat Hussain in a couple of days.

Sources said that the consultative meeting had been organised in the wake of activities of Chaudhry Shafay Hussain, the scion of Shujaat Hussain and elder brother of federal minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain, in Gujrat city for the last few months as Shafay wants to contest from the city constituency of Punjab Assembly in next elections.

Wajahat said his younger son Musa Elahi would contest from NA-71 against PML-N’s Abid Raza Kotla and efforts were underway to win the support of PTI for Musa’s candidature. He said in case of PTI’s refusal, his son could contest as an independent candidate from the constituency.

Earlier, in 2018, as per a seat adjustment formula the PTI did not pitch candidates against PML-Q candidates on two NA and three PA seats and Q did the same on two NA and four PA seats of Gujrat district due to which the alliance won on three NA and all seven PA seats of the district.

Published in Dawn, June 25th, 2022