PML-Q shatters opp hopes of no-trust move

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday said that he has “full faith” in Pakistan Muslim League- Quaid (PML-Q) after Federal Minister for Water Resources Moonis Elahi advised the premier to firmly quieten the ‘panic’ in his party.

The statement of water minister, who is also the son of Punjab Assembly Speaker Pervaiz Elahi, delivered a potentially fatal blow to the opposition hopes of ousting the prime minister through a no-trust motion.

Addressing the International Symposium on Pakistan's Hydropower Development in Global Perspective, Elahi said the political environment was a "bit weird these days but there is nothing [substantial] in it”.

The PML-Q leader’s statement comes as the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) is engaged in a courtship of the ruling party’s allies in an effort to forge a unified strategy on send the government packing.

The PML-Q leader, while addressing the premier directly, dismissed the opposition’s efforts as a mere “circus” and clarified that, “We are political people. It is our job to meet people.”

“What is important in this is that we as political people make connections; we have a connection with you and we want to make it last," he added. “So, it is my request that you tell the PTI in a firm way, 'aap ne ghabrana nahi hai' (you should not worry)".

Also read: No-trust motion: Opposition labours to put word into action

The statement came as a shot in the arm of the prime minister who, while lauding PML-Q leader Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain’s unmatched political skills, reaffirmed his full faith in his family.

He was delivering a speech at the event right after Elahi’s speech.

The premier said that PTI was “battle-hardened” and now those who had panicked had started contacting personalities like Chaudhry Shujaat and showing concern about his health.

"[PML-Q leader and Federal Minister for Water Resources] Moonis Elahi said we shouldn't worry about the meetings," the premier said.

"Those who are worried have now thought of Chaudhry sahib's health. I believe he is a politician who has skills that perhaps no one else does but to suddenly remember his health ... these are the people who are worried.

"We have full faith in you (Elahi) and your family," he added.

Political expediency

Elahi’s statement has come just a day after a PML-N delegation led by its president, Shehbaz Sharif, met with the PML-Q leadership at its residence in Lahore after 14 years as part of the efforts to muster support for the no-confidence motion against PM Imran.

Though the ice has broken between PML-N and PML-Q after a long time political observers believe that it is unlikely to assume that everything would get back to normal in just a couple of meetings. They, however, say that the Chaudhry brothers have so far sided with the government but have also frequently expressed reservations against PTI government policies.

Following the meeting between Sharifs and the Chaudhrys, it was reported that Shehbaz sought PML-Q's support for the no-confidence motion against PM Imran in the National Assembly, saying now was the time to make a big decision.

Though the Chaudhry brothers told Shehbaz that the coming days were crucial and their party would make a decision after evaluating the situation, Elahi’s statement has left a little to the imagination and sent a strong message to the opposition parties to bank their support on something else than just merely relying on the government’s coalition partners.

Also read: Shehbaz woos Chaudhrys for no-trust move

The statement is also significant as the opposition parties recently showed unity and announced to bring a no-confidence motion. Amid claims that several PTI lawmakers were ready to jump the ship, it would be interesting to see in the coming days if the opposition gets any support from treasury benches, especially, after the allies have not yet openly extended support to them.

Apart from Shehbaz, PPP's co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and the government’s ally in Sindh – MQM-P – had meetings with PML-Q leadership to weigh on the option of ousting the government.

Apparently, at the moment, the opposition’s efforts to peel off allies of the ruling party are not yielding the desired results. The political analysts, however, say that nothing is final in the world of politics.