GUJRAT: In an apparent bid to show unity among the PML-Q ranks and members of the Chaudhry family, PML-Q chief and former prime minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain spent the first day of Eid at the Kunjah House of his nephew MNA Moonis Elahi, but the gesture may not help resolve the core difference among the two groups recently emerging within the party.

Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Parvez Elahi, MNA Hussain Elahi, former education minister Mian Imran Masood and others were also present there and offered the Eid prayers together.

However, Shafay Hussain, the elder son of Chaudhry Shujaat, was conspicuous by his absence at Kunjah House, despite being in Gujrat. He preferred to spend Eid day at Zahoor Elahi House in the city. His brother and federal minister Salik Hussain did not visit Gujrat to celebrate Eid, unlike other members of the family.

Traditionally, the Chaudhrys would mostly celebrate Eid in their home town of Gujrat and meet the party workers and supporters during their stay there.

Chaudhry Shujaat invited some local media persons at Kunjah House and talked to them in the presence of Parvez Elahi and his son Moonis Elahi in a bid to dispel the impression of a split within the family and the party.

Despite the show of unity, the PML-Q chief and the father-son duo (Parvez and Moonis) refused to budge from their respective positions — Shujaat supporting the PML-N government in center and Parvez backing the PTI chief Imran Khan.

Responding to different questions, Shujaat claimed the party and the family were united and all the issues would be resolved “at appropriate time”.

About a question regrading visits of PML-N president Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and PPP’s Asif Ali Zardari to his residence in Lahore, Shujaat quipped, “Where there is grain, people do come there.”

However, he advised the government to control the inflation and prices of food items, and also advised the leaders of different political parties to avoid “bitter statements”.

He also reiterated his support for Parvez Elahi’s candidature for the slot of Punjab chief minister.

Asked about his son Shafay Hussain lobbying as a prospective provincial assembly candidate from Gujrat city seat, he said everyone had the right to contest from anywhere.

Parvez Elahi, however, commended the PTI chief Imran Khan for playing, what he called “a courageous role” to protect the rights of people of Pakistan and vowed to continue supporting him through thick and thin.

He expressed the hope that the PTI would win all the 20 PA seats in July 17 by-polls.

“If I am elected as Punjab chief minister, my focus will be on improving the rural economy in the province that could bring a revolutionary change in the lives of farmers as the current economic condition requires some out of box solutions,” Mr Elahi said.

He termed the PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari a political leader of big stature, who he said had a big heart to show patience and respect to everyone in any situation.

Some insiders say the party’s future strategy depends on the outcome of the July 17 by-polls.

They say that currently, both groups within the PM-Q are trying to win over each other, as party chief seems to be more interested in the unity of all factions of Muslim Leagues in Pakistan.

Some party lawmakers being led by MNA Moonis Elahi have been persuading Shujaat Hussain to withdraw his support for the PMLN-led federal coalition government as two party MNAs are supporting the Shahbaz government and three others are on the PTI’s side, saying the situation is embarrassing for all.

On the other hand, the Shujaat camp argues that its leader has honoured the commitment made by the party with the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) leadership at the time of the no-confidence move against the then PM Imran Khan.

Published in Dawn, July 13th, 2022