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Published 01 Jan, 2013 08:59am

Supporting Qadri but not quitting govt, says Elahi

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League - Quaid (PML-Q) leader and Deputy Prime Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi on Tuesday said his party's support for Tahirul Qadri, chief of Tehrik Minhajul Quran, did not imply that the PML-Q was parting ways with the Pakistan People’s Party-led coalition government at the centre, DawnNews reported.

Speaking to media representatives, Elahi said the PML-Q would work on seat adjustment with the PPP in as many instances as possible.

The PML-Q leader said talks with the Tehrik Minhajul Quran chief should not be treated unusually, adding that Qadri's movement was aimed at eliminating corruption and was not opposed to democracy.

Elahi moreover said a province could not be run through offering subsidies to the public.

He added that the Punjab government was spending the province's education budget on unnecessary projects, adding that the rapid bus service project for Lahore had led to increased troubles in terms of the city's traffic management.

Earlier on Monday, the PML-Q had announced its support for Qadri’s demands for an independent and honest caretaker set-up and electoral reforms.

“We will support Dr Tahirul Qadri’s mission whether we remain in government or not,” PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain had declared after meeting Qadri. He was accompanied by Elahi and Syed Mushahid Hussain.

“After a discussion with Dr Qadri we believe that his mission is not against any individual, but against injustices and those who do not pay taxes,” Hussain had stated in his briefing to reporters.

On Sunday, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) had announced it would participate in Qadri’s long march on Jan 14 in support of reforms in electoral politics.

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