PML-Q to take final decision today on support to PTI govt

Veteran politician Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain will today chair the meeting of senior Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leaders in Islamabad to chalk out the party’s strategy in the wake of no-trust motion the opposition parties have brought against the government in the National Assembly (NA), reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Sunday. 

Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, federal ministers and other party leaders will attend the meeting.  

Although, initially the PML-Q, a party allied to the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government at Center, seemed to be supportive of the government. However, in recent days it has started giving mixed signals. 

Even Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit to Chaudhry’s residence in Lahore failed to produce the desired results.

Initially, it appeared that the PTI ally had given it assurance that it had no issues with supporting it.

But soon after, the premier left for Islamabad, the party clarified that no such assurance had been given. 

The meeting has especially gained more significance following Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed gave a statement in Quetta yesterday (Saturday, March 12, 2022) in which he had taunted the PML-Q as a party with only five MNAs, but still having the cheek to what he alleged ‘blackmailing’ PM Imran Khan for the seat of chief minister in Punjab. “I am not like a party from Punjab, which only has five MNAs but is blackmailing the prime minister,” the minister had said, and added, “I am standing by PM Imran firm like a rock.”

PML-Q did not wait to respond to his remarks, and Moonis Elahi, in a tweet, reminded Rasheed of those days of student life when, according to him, the former would receive money from his elders.   

Yesterday, Chaudhry Shujaat had said that it was quite likely that the party may give its final decision at Sunday’s meeting. 

Reporter Awais Kiyani