Haven't left govt, nor joined opposition, says Elahi

PML-Q leader advises govt to move forward by consulting allies for 'own good'

LAHORE:

Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi said on Wednesday that the PML-Q had neither quit the government nor has it joined the opposition in the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The statement of the PML-Q leader came amid the emergence of banners in Lahore calling for Elahi -- the Punjab Assembly speaker -- to be appointed as the chief minister of the province. These banners coincided with a statement Elahi made during an interview wherein he had said that Prime Minister Imran Khan was in trouble.

“Imran Khan is 100% in trouble, as all allies are on the opposition side,” Elahi had said. “The government 100% lacks wisdom and understanding. The prime minister has a great desire for revenge, which is evident from the fact that he puts everyone in NAB [National Accountability Bureau]. There are no such ways to govern,” he had added.

Read Opposition to move IHC for smooth voting on no-trust motion

“We are coalition partners and a separate political party,” a statement issued by Elahi today said. He added that there were differences of opinions within a political party but decisions were taken through consultation. He said PM Imran was an honest leader and his intentions were good.

“We have neither exited the coalition nor have we joined the opposition. We are a part of the government and have stood by it through thick and thin,” he added. The PML-Q raised its voice on matters of public interest from the very first day. He advised the government to take a decision after consulting allies for its own good.

Elahi, earlier on Tuesday, rang alarm bells for Imran Khan, saying that the prime minister was “100%” in trouble because of the no-confidence motion against him.

In an interview with a private news channel, the PML-Q leader – a major ally of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) at the Centre and in Punjab – criticised the prime minister, saying that he had a desire for revenge, which was not the way to govern.

“Imran Khan is 100% in trouble, as all allies are on the opposition side,” Elahi said. “The government 100% lacks wisdom and understanding. The prime minister has a great desire for revenge, which ios evident from the fact that he puts everyone in NAB [National Accountability Bureau]. There are no such ways to govern,” he added.

The Punjab Assembly speaker backed the opposition’s claim that it had more votes than the number required for the success of the no-confidence motion. “The opposition is right to say that they have more people. And ‘surprises’ have yet to come,” the former Punjab chief minister said.

Coming back to the government, Elahi said that there was a remarkable number of ineptitude people among the ruling elite. “They take politics as a game,” he said, adding that Prime Minister Imran was “too late” now because the cracks in the ruling coalition had widened.

The PML-Q leader had also revealed that PM Imran had offered the PML-Q to merge with the PTI. He also said that Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid was still fond of Prime Minister Imran, therefore, he had forgot the closeness with the Chaudhry brothers.