LAHORE, Feb 27: Deputy Prime Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and Chaudhry Zaheeruddin were elected PML-Q’s Punjab president and secretary-general, respectively, unopposed in the intra-party elections on Wednesday.

The Election Commission of Pakistan has recently warned the PML-Q and over 100 other political parties to hold their intra-party polls or these would be denied contesting the forthcoming general election.

Unlike the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf, the intra-party polls prove to be mere a formality of ‘announcing’ office-bearers for the Pakistan People’s Party and the PML-Q.

Speaking to party workers after being elected, Pervaiz Elahi said it was the fourth election of the party.

“The PML-Q is strengthened because of the workers who, despite all odds, remained loyal to the party,” he said, adding the PML-Q maintained the tradition of holding free and fair intra-party elections.

He said owing to a stubborn attitude of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, a foreign investment of billion of rupees could not come to Punjab.

He said if the Shahbaz government had not cancelled his government’s projects initiated during his tenure (2002-07), a foreign investment of Rs20 billion could have been ensured and thousands of people got employment.

He said the Punjab government closed 5,000 public schools in the province at the cost of five Danish schools.

The deputy prime minister further said the PML-Q supported the PPP government so that it could complete its five-year term.

He also criticised Shahbaz for his “bad policies and bad governance”.