LAHORE: The PML-Q is completely silent after being ‘ditched’ by the PML-N on seat adjustment formula and has yet not been able to come up with its list of candidates contesting the upcoming general elections.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has already issued election symbols to all parties’ candidates and completed the process, leading to the general election on Feb 8.

PML-Q Punjab secretary general Shafay Hussain and party leader Chaudhry Salik Hussain did not respond to repeated calls and WhatsApp messages regarding the list of their candidates contesting the general election.

Soon after the PML-N announced its candidates even on those seats claimed to be left open for the PML-Q in seat adjustment formula except two seats each in National and Punjab Assembly constituencies, Salik Hussain had tweeted that the party had decided to break electoral alliance with the PML-N.

In his tweets, Mr Salik, the former federal minister and son of PML-Q president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, stated the PML-N should also issue tickets to its candidates against him and his brother Chaudhry Shafay Hussain “as we are ready for the electoral clash without any seat adjustment with the PML-N”.

He also stated that the PML-Q candidates were standing by the party and it would reciprocate by standing by them and go ahead against the PML-N in Feb 8 election.

Shafay said the PML-N and PML-Q senior leaders had gone into detailed discussions on seat adjustments and thrashed out all constituencies district-wise and eventually agreed that the PML-N would leave four National Assembly and eight Punjab Assembly constituencies open for his party but it backtracked.

Shafay had stated that the party might field its 12 candidates on different seats but did not explain the details of party candidates.

Chaudhry Moonis Elahi, who along with his father had left PML-Q and joined PTI, had sarcastically tweeted on the matter as: “Tara aur Sitara ka drama shuru”.

Published in Dawn, January 15th, 2024