PTI’s dharna politics after Punjab by-polls, says Elahi

Punjab Assembly Speaker and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has said that “things cannot work” in the country’s politics without the establishment.

In an interview to BBC Urdu, Elahi, a key ally of the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) said that former prime minister Imran Khan has delayed his plans for another long march towards Islamabad until after July 20.

“Political parties say that the establishment should not interfere but unless they bring everyone together, how else will the NAB [National Accountability chairman or the [chief] election commissioner would be appointed,” he asked.

The Punjab speaker said that he was an ally of Imran Khan but added that he was “not his slave”. He added: “We openly say that this is wrong and fix it.” Elahi said that before 2018, Imran was doing amateur politics but later he formed government with the help of allies.

About the PTI’s anti-government drive, Elahi said that Imran would be going for the by-election campaign in Punjab next month and would not be marching towards the Islamabad anytime soon. “Imran will do the politics of sit-ins after the by-elections.”

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Last month, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) de-seated 25 PTI lawmakers from the Punjab Assembly for voting against the party lines in the election for the chief minister of the province. By-polls will now be held on 20 general seats in July.

When asked about the media reports which suggested that the Elahi seemed to have part ways with his cousin Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, he denied any such rumours, insisting that his party would remain united.

But when pointed out that Chaudhry Salik Hussain, son of PML-Q chief Shujaat Hussain, was part of the government, Elahi was quick to criticise his nephew. He said that Chaudhry Salik Hussain was an inexperienced newcomer in the world of politics.