Shujaat appeared to be under ‘immense pressure’

Says PML-Q president had asked party’s lawmakers to vote for no one during Punjab CM’s elections

LAHORE:

PML-Q leader Moonis Elahi on Saturday said that his uncle and party’s president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain in his letter had asked party’s lawmakers not to vote for either of the candidates during Punjab chief minister’s elections, adding that he seemed to be under “some immense pressure”.

On Friday, Hamza Shehbaz was declared victorious for Punjab CM’s slot by three votes after Deputy Speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari rejected PML-Q lawmakers’ all 10 votes on the pretext that they had “violated party’s chief’s orders”.

Speaking to media in the provincial capital, Moonis said he asked Shjuaat whether he had written a letter to which the PML-Q president replied in affirmative.

“The PML-Q in the letter was asked to vote for no one [in Punjab CM’s elections],” Moonis said while referring to Shujaat.

He said the PML-Q president wanted Pervaiz Elahi to become the chief minister of Punjab but “not with [the help of] (PTI Chairman) Imran Khan”.

“To this, I told him that in this case, Pervaiz Elahi would lose the elections,” Moonis said, adding that he had requested Shujaat to reconsider his decision but “there seemed immense pressure on him”.

Shujaat broke his silence midnight between Friday and Saturday, hours after Hamza was re-elected as the CM, calling on political stakeholders to proceed with consultations.

He said Elahi was his candidate. “Elahi is my candidate today, and he will remain my candidate tomorrow,” he said, adding that Elahi could not be the candidate of the PTI.

Shujaat also said that there had been an association with institutions for 30 years. “How can I support those who criticise institutions?” he questioned while referring to Imran.

“If there are institutions, there is stability in Pakistan.”
Shujaat said all leaders should keep their personal interests and personal thinking above the threshold so that the country does not suffer from more crises.

“Do not try to misinterpret political opposition by making it personal opposition,” he said. “Forget everything and give up confrontational politics keeping national security in mind.”

The PML-Q chief said that whoever gets a chance to come to power should go to political opponents.

“For the better interest of the country, let us sit together and proceed with consultation,” he added.