Chaudhry brothers seem to be parting ways, finally

Shujaat backing incumbent govt, his cousin Parvez Elahi supporting PTI

ISLAMABAD/ LAHORE ':

The PML-Q -- led by the famous Chaudhry brothers of Gujrat – appears to be finally heading towards a split – which at one time appeared impossible -- as one of them, Shujaat Hussain, the chief of the party, seems to be closer to the current coalition government, unlike the other, his cousin, Punjab Assembly Speaker Parvez Elahi, an equally influential leader of the party, is endorsing its rival, the PTI.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday met PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain at the latter’s residence and inquired after his health.

On the occasion, Shujaat presented certain suggestions regarding overseas Pakistanis and the upcoming fiscal budget.

Read more: PTI, PML-Q MPAs granted bail in PA brawl case

The prime minister welcomed these “public-oriented” proposals and said they would be included in the next budget.

He told Shujaat that two federal ministers from the PML-Q were very hard working and honest.

During the meeting, federal ministers Tariq Bashir Cheema, Salik Hussain, Khawaja Saad Rafique, provincial ministers Malik Ahmed Khan, PML-Q central leaders Chaudhry Shafay Hussain and PML-Q MNA Farrukh Khan were also present.

The PML-Q president expressed the resolve to steer the country out of the financial crunch collectively.

On Monday, Shujaat’s sons -- federal minister Salik and Shafay Hussain -- called on Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz at his office, announcing their “complete support” to the incumbent government and reassured that their political alliance would continue in the future as well.

The Punjab CM also inquired after the health of their father, Shujaat, and expressed good wishes for him.

Also read: Govt once again reaches out to PML-Q

Another PML-Q leader Tariq Bashir Cheema separately met Hamza along with Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Raja Riaz. They too expressed their desire to continue their political alliance.

Elahi had chosen to side with the PTI by rejecting the Sharif brothers’ offer for the Punjab chief minister’s position, while his cousin, Shujaat, preferred to shake hands with the PML-N-led government.

Later, the PML-Q president’s son, Salik, was inducted into the new government’s cabinet along with Cheema.

Salik and Cheema were appointed federal ministers for the Board of Investment and national food security and research, respectively.

However, Hussain Ellahi, son of Chaudhry Wajahat Hussain -- Shujaat’s brother – wrote in a tweet that his journey with the PML-Q had to come to an end and he would decide his political future with his cousin, Moonis.

“[I] cannot be in a party that supports Shehbaz Sharif-led Imported Government,” he added.

Sources said Hussain Ellahi was leaving on a foreign trip and the Chaudhry family of Gujrat would make a major announcement after his return.

Elahi and his son Moonis are supporting the PTI, which was ousted from power in the Centre and Punjab by the then opposition parties.

The Punjab Assembly speaker has been pretty vocal against the present regime.

On April 16, PML-N’s Hamza was “elected” as the new chief minister of Punjab securing 197 votes amid the chaos that erupted in the provincial assembly, but his rival candidate, Elahi, had declared the polls as “illegal”.

However, after a long, drawn-out legal and political battle, Hamza was finally sworn-in as the Punjab chief minister on April 30.

The oath of office was administered to him by National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, in accordance with the Lahore High Court’s order, at the Governor’s House in Lahore.

Earlier, the LHC CJ had passed orders twice. The first was to President Arif Alvi to nominate anyone for administering the oath to Hamza but the order was in vain. The second time, the LHC chief justice had advised the Punjab governor to ensure the swearing-in of Hamza, but the constitutional obligation was not followed.

The PML-N leader for the third time knocked the LHC doors over not being administered his oath. This time, the petitioner had requested the LHC to “nominate any person” for the administration of oath at the Governor House at a specified time calling for the "coercive arm of the state to be set in motion for the implementation of the court orders".

On Monday, rumours were making rounds on social media about a possible patch up between Elahi and Hamza through Shujaat who, according to sources, wanted the two sides to come to terms with each other.

However, Moonis rejected this rumour terming it “fake news” in his tweet. He also asked those propagating this news to check the sources.

(With input from agencies)