PML-Q all set to remove Shujaat as party chief

Cheema also removed as general secretary; announces new intra-party elections within 10 days

LAHORE:

The Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) decided on Thursday to remove party President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and General Secretary Tariq Bashir Cheema and hold fresh election for the top posts within 10 days, senior party leader Senator Kamil Ali Agha said.

The decisions were taken in an emergent meeting of the PML-Q Central Working Committee (CWC), chaired by Senator Agha. The meeting also formed a five-member election commission, headed by Jahangir A Joja, for the intra-party elections.

Addressing news conference after the meeting, Agha said that CWC met after receiving requisition for holding an emergent meeting. He added that a total of 83 members participated in the meeting in which four to five resolutions were passed.

The CWC met a week after Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari rejected the 10 PML-Q lawmakers’ votes in favour of party leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi in the election for the chief minister on the basis of a letter from Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain.

The deputy speaker ruled that the letter had stated that Shujaat, as the PML-Q president, had barred his party’s lawmakers from voting for Elahi. He then declared Elahi’s rival, Hamza Shehbaz, as the Punjab chief minister.
Elahi, however, moved the Supreme Court, challenging the deputy speaker’s ruling. On Tuesday, a three-member bench of the apex court struck down Mazari’s ruling and declared Elahi as the winner in the election for Punjab chief ministership.

When asked at the news conference, Agha said that it was not about the letter. He expressed his surprise that someone brought Shujaat to the Supreme Court “which is unbelievable”. He added that “actions of three gentlemen” proved very harmful for the party.

“The CWC has unanimously decided to remove Chaudhry Shujjat Hussain from the party’s president position because his health condition has badly affected his decision power,” Senator Agha told reporters.
“The CWC has also decided to remove Tariq Bashir Cheema for using the party for his vested interests and hatching conspiracies,” he added. “The CWC also passed a resolution, recognising the services of Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi for the party.”

Agha said he had long-standing relationship with Shujaat but his recent decisions were “very painful” for the veteran members of the party. “All members of the PML-Q have great respect for Chaudhry Shujjat Hussain but we are unable to understand what has happened,” he said.

“I have underscored on numerous occasions that there were no differences between the Chaudhry brothers – Shujaat and Elahi – but very unfortunate thing has happened, which is beyond imagination,” he said, adding that “it is very unpleasant situation”.

Agha announced that immediate elections would be held in the party and a five-member election commission had been appointed. As per the party’s constitution, Agha added, a meeting of the Central General Council could also be called.

The CWC also passed resolution to support the Pakistan Tahreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Muhammad Sabtain Khan in the election for the post of Punjab Assembly speaker – the seat vacated by Elahi following his election as the chief minister. The CWC directed its members to vote for Khan.