Elahi claims around 10-12 treasury MPs in opp ‘safe custody’

PML-Q leader says the ruling party members paid him a visit, advises govt to avoid 'path of collision'

LAHORE:

The Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) is playing on both sides of the fences and was still apparently looking towards the government for an offer for the slot of Punjab’s chief minister, a PML-N leader maintained on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, a PML-Q office-bearer, while endorsing the notion that it was indeed walking a careful line and was still open to what the government had to offer, revealed that his party, if it decides to side with opposition parties, the decision would only be out of political necessity, and not a choice.

He also disclosed that PML-Q still harboured some reservations regarding aligning with PML-N, saying that neither of the two fit the bill for such an alliance.

“Although PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari was a guarantor of this arrangement, still it seems a bit too risky a bet,” he pointed out.

However, the PML-Q official said that despite his party’s attempts to honour its commitments with the PTI, the odds were different. “Instead of pressurising coalition partners, PTI should focus on bringing their own house in order and should fish back their members from opposition parties,” he added.

He maintained that if the government offered the slot of CM Punjab with dignity along with assurances of complete autonomy in the province, and irons out differences in their own camp, PML-Q can consider sticking with the alliance.

To a question as to why Asif Ali Zardari was adamant about making Pervez Elahi the chief minister of Punjab, the PML-Q member pointed out that such an arrangement was particularly favourable for the former president.

12 lawmakers

Intensifying the uncertainty hanging over the shifting alliances and giving no definite answer, PML-Q  leader Pervez Elahi also confirmed in the same breathe the horse-trading by the opposition, saying that around 10-12 government lawmakers were in “safe custody” of the opposition.

In a TV interview, the PML-Q leader said: “The 10-12 government lawmakers also approached me, but now they were nowhere to be seen.”

“We have tracked them down; they are in the opposition’s safe custody. The government is actually more concerned about them. The ones who they looked forward to [for support] have stated they are now neutral. No friendly country or institution will come near this matter,” he claimed.

Talking about PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif, Elahi said he had held a telephonic conversation with the PML-N leader, adding that no meeting has taken place between them as of yet.

“Imran Khan is an honest man and our party will try working beside PTI and not separately,” adding that his party has not made any decision that could cause any harm to PTI.

On the other hand, PML-Q leader Parvez Elahi clarified that his party had neither parted ways with the government nor had it decided to back the no-confidence motion, despite telling a private TV channel in an interview a day earlier than most allies of the ruling PTI were inclined towards the opposition.

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.

In an interview aired on Tuesday night,  Elahi, whose party is a major ally of the ruling 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.

He had said that the prime minister was “100%” in trouble as all allies were on the opposition’s side.

However, in a statement issued on Wednesday, Elahi stuck a more conciliatory tone, saying PM Imran was an “honest leader” and his “intentions were good”.

“The PML-Q is a coalition partner and a separate political party,” he added. “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.”

Elahi advised the government to make a decision after consulting its allies for its own good.