Amid rumours of intra-party rifts, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain on Saturday said that there were "no differences" between him and his brother Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi.
"Have Elahi or I ever made any statement against each other?" retorted the PML-Q chief while addressing a news conference.
"Ideological differences can occur, even between a father and son," he added. "That is no big deal."
Shujaat also said that he meets Elahi "every day" and that they "will offer Eid prayers together".
He also alleged that the rumours of differences between the family members were intended to "divert attention", saying that "all will have to work together for Kashmir".
Read Rifts in PML-Q grow into all-out opposition
Previously, speculations had been rife that a rift had emerged between the Chaudhry brothers in light of the no-confidence motion against former prime minister Imran Khan, turning the intra-party chasm irredeemably sour. While Elahi, along with his son Moonis Elahi had chosen to side with Imran, party supremo Shujaat sided with the PML-N.
The simmering tensions, which had been reportedly bubbling for months, turned into an all-out opposition when the PML-Q nominated Chaudhry Hussain Elahi as the leader of opposition in the NA – just hours after Shujaat’s son Chaudhry Salik Hussain was inducted into the cabinet of PM Shehbaz Sharif.
In June, after Chaudhry Wajahat Hussain's announcement of his intentions to form another party, PML-Q President Shujaat shrugged off the threat, saying a new party in the midst of countless others sprawling across the country “will not make any difference”.
He denied the allegations of being bribed into embracing the new dispensation. “There are already hundreds of parties in Pakistan. What difference will it make if another one is formed?” he said.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ