LAHORE, Jan 5: The Pakistan Muslim League-Q Punjab chapter has filed a reference against one of its defecting members — apparently a soft target according to analysts — Saba Sadiq.

Chaudhry Zaheeruddin Khan, who is opposition leader in the Punjab Assembly, submitted the reference against Saba to the speaker, threatening to go to the court if the speaker did not move against the defected member within stipulated time.

In a press statement, Khan said the party had decided to perform its “role of opposition”, and take all defectors to task. “A legally sound reference has been submitted to the speaker and the ball is now in his court,” Khan added.

If the speaker did not send the reference to the chief election commissioner within 48 hours, the party would move to the court, he said and hoped: “All democratic forces would support the reference that is aimed at deterring the menace of horse-trading.

The PPP has so far been positive in its approach: despite in dire need to increase its numerical strength, it has so far not taken any PML-Q member away. But the PML-N was dying to break the party and enjoy all its ruins.” The PML-Q, however, would remain intact and keep its identity, he claimed.

Political analysts think that by pouncing on Saba, the PML-Q is trying to perform a trifecta – testing administrative ground whether it could carry the reference through, sounding warning to other members of forward bloc to behave or face the threat and pre-empting more defections.

However, by sparing politically influential members of forward bloc, like Atta Maneka, the party has tried to avoid political damage that an influential member like him could wreak to the party.