SAHIWAL, Jan 29: The Pakistan Muslim League-Q on Tuesday held a public meeting addressed by former Punjab chief minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi at Wali Chowk, Chichawatni, instead of Murtaza Stadium, reportedly because of thin public attendance.

Reports said the district government had cleared Murtaza Stadium for the meeting but the party’s local leaders preferred the Wali Chowk venue, fearing a lukewarm response from the public in view of earlier cancellation of a similar meeting at Sahiwal for the same reason.

At the meeting attended by about 4,000 people, including employees of various government departments, conspicuous by their absence were PML-Q district secretary general and former MPA Pir Walayat Shah Khagga, Chichawatni Tehsil president Rao Muhammad Aslam and other office-bearers.

Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi said that Mian Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif stood disqualified from contesting the election and now wanted to come into power through backdoor by demanding national government.

Saying the PPP lacked `proper’ leadership, he alleged that Mr Asif Ali Zardari had plundered national kitty and would do the same if brought to power.

Former provincial minister Malik Iqbal Ahmed Langrial also spoke about the performance of the PML-Q government.

PROTEST: Chichawatni Bar Association took out a protest rally led by president Asif Mailo.