PML-Q to file references against lawmakers who did not vote for Ashraf

PML-Q leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi said three lawmakers did not attend Friday's assembly session due to private engagements. PHOTO: PPI/FILE

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q) senior leader Chaudhary Pervaiz Elahi said that his party would be filing a reference for the disqualification of MNAs who abstained from voting during Friday’s Prime Ministerial elections.

Elahi told media representatives after a lunch meeting hosted by PML-Q Chief Chaudahry Shujaat Hussain, that disciplinary action would be taken against those who did not participate in the election process and a reference would be filed against them.

PML-Q member Faisal Saleh Hayat had initially refused to vote during the elections, choosing to enter his vote as the last person to vote in the elections. Later on he refused to take oath.

Elahi, who was sworn in as a senior minister on Friday, said that the government would mainly focus on resolution of energy crisis and it would be their top priority.

He said that the PML-Q has decided to file references against four of its lawmakers who chose not to participate in the elections, and instead attended a Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz parliamentary meeting.

Responding to a question on the non-participation of his party members in the election process, he vowed that strict action would be taken against those found guilty. However, he added that three MNAs had not attended the session due to their private engagements.

Resolving energy crisis

Elahi said that a meeting has been summoned over the energy crisis on Saturday, which has proven to be a major concern. The newly-elect Premier too has been asked to take steps on a war footing to resolve the crisis.

“The Prime Minister assured us that it would be government’s top priority to get the energy crisis resolved, which is deteriorating with each passing day,” he added.

The PML-Q leader lashed out at Punjab government and said that except Punjab, all other provinces have showed readiness in resolving energy crisis together with the centre.

Elahi was averse to Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif for participating in anti-load shedding protests in which houses and properties belonging to PML-Q lawmakers’ had been damaged.

Answering a query, he expressed optimism that energy issue would be addressed, as they discussed the issue with the Prime Minister threadbare and agreed that the issue would be resolved jointly on priority basis.

He said that Monis Elahi was released by court and they have nothing to do with it.