GUJRAT: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has confirmed reports of a PTI-backed independently-elected MNA from NA-62, Muhammad Ilyas Chaudhry, joining the PML-Q.

Former PML-N MNA Abid Raza Kotla, also a candidate for the same seat, had written a letter dated Feb 27 last to the ECP seeking the names of officially elected MNAs of the PML-Q.

Responding on March 7, the ECP list carried the names of all four MNAs of the PML-Q -- independently-elected MNA from NA-62 Muhammad Ilyas, Chaudhry Hussain Elahi (NA-63), Chaudhry Salik Hussain (NA-64) and Tariq Basheer Cheema from NA-165 (Bahawalpur).

Khalid Mehmood, the Gujrat district election commissioner, also confirmed the letter written by thr ECP.

The PTI-backed two independent candidates, including Chaudhary Ilyas (NA-62) and Shahid Raza Kotla (PP-28) had been notified as elected in Feb 8 polls.

Reports of Mr Ilyas joining the PML-Q surfaced when the ECP uploaded on its website the joining of an independent MNA to the PML-Q, with three already elected on its tickets.

However, it was learnt later that Mr Ilyas had already submitted affidavit of joining the PML-Q instead of following PTI’s decision of sending its lawmakers to the Sunni Ittehad Council.

Abid Raza Kotla told Dawn that he had written the letter to ECP to get the picture cleared before the public about the political affiliation of his rival.

He said that Chaudhry Ilyas had voted in favour of the SIC nominee for the prime minister in violation the PML-Q decision of supporting the PML-N candidate Mian Shahbaz Sharif.

He claimed that the defection clause might also be applicable to Mr Ilyas if the PML-Q parliamentary leader sent a reference to the ECP.

This correspondent made repeated calls as well as messages to MNA Ilyas to know his position but he did not respond.

Published in Dawn, March 9th, 2024