LAHORE, Aug 27: Chaudhry Shujaat Husain demanded on Tuesday that the government should let the nation know whether it had made any change to the agreement under which the Sharif family had been exiled to Saudi Arabia and barred from taking part in politics for 10 years.

Talking to newsmen at his residence, the PML-QA leader said such a clarification was necessary in view of the gradual involvement of the Sharifs in politics, filing of nomination papers by them in various Lahore constituencies being the first step.

Nomination papers of Shahbaz Sharif from PP-141 (Lahore) have already been found in order on scrutiny.

Mian Nawaz Sharif and his wife, Kulsoom, have also filed nomination papers from various city constituencies and would be scrutinized according to the schedule.

Chaudhry Shujaat recalled that the nation had been told by President Musharraf that the Sharifs would stay away from the country as well as politics for 10 years. Now that the agreement was being flouted, the government should explain the actual situation to the nation, he added.

He told a questioner that his party would not file any appeal against the acceptance of Shahbaz Sharif’s nomination papers.

Asked to explain the services of former PPP leader Sheikh Rohail Asghar and Mian Azhar’s brother, Ashraf, on the basis of which they had been awarded PML-QA tickets, he said so far nobody had been awarded ticket and the party was likely to take a few more days to take final decisions to be able to make adjustments with other parties.

Chaudhry Shujaat is scheduled to meet the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal leaders in Islamabad on Wednesday to discuss mutual adjustments.

“How will the PML-QA justify electoral cooperation with the MMA when the two have divergent views on the presidency of Gen Musharraf, his competence to amend the Constitution and several other issues?” he was asked.

Chaudhry Shujaat said commitment to safeguard the Islamic provisions of the constitution was the common denominator. Gen Musharraf had given him a personal undertaking that he would not touch the Islamic provisions of the Constitution. In case he did, the PML-QA would turn against him, he warned.

He answered in the affirmative when asked if party ticket could be awarded to somebody who had just crossed into the PML-QA, or had not appeared before the parliamentary board nor made a formal request for the ticket.

But, he made it clear that such cases would not be accorded priority when the party had its own electable aspirants.

He said Nazimeen who had resigned to be able to contest the elections had not been promised any party ticket.

He did not agree with the suggestion that an interim government could be formed or the elections might be delayed. “Such a course will be very dangerous for the military rulers,” said the former minister.

Chaudhry Shujaat was critical of Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf chairman Imran Khan for his unkind remarks against the PML-QA.

He said the former cricket star should let the nation know his sources of income and from where he is receiving funds for his media campaign. “Is it Zakat money? Is it donation or Jewish money?”

He said in case the PTI chief failed to come up with satisfactory answers, it was the responsibility of the government to take notice of the matter.

Also, he said the PTI chief should explain whether Zakat money or donations could be used for organizing political gatherings.

The PML-QA leader said the PTI chairman had also met the Punjab governor after which he was left with no justification to criticize others calling on the chief executive of the province.