ECP requested to allow PML-Q elections

Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) Punjab Vice President Rai Mansab Ali Khan requested the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday to dismiss the plea filed by Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and allow the party to go for the elections of new president and general secretary.

Khan filed reply to the ECP on behalf of the Pervaiz Elahi group in the PML-Q. Earlier, the PML-Q Central Working Committee (CWC) removed Shujaat as president along with secretary general Tariq Bashir Cheema and ordered fresh party elections. However, Shujaat moved the ECP against the CWC.

Khan submitted his group’s response to Shujaat’s petition with the ECP. He said that Chaudhry Shujaat rendered immense services to the party but “now he is disabled person, therefore, his replacement was inevitable”. He accused Cheema of “hijacking” the party.

According to the party constitution, Khan contended, there is an election tribunal, where election-related disputes could be settled. Also, he added, Shujaat’s petition had understated the powers of the CWC. He requested the ECP to dismiss Shujaat’s petition and allow the process of intra-party elections.

Talking to the media talk outside the ECP, Khan said that due to Chaudhry Shujaat's illness, the party had decided that Chaudhry Parvaiz Elahi should take over the leadership. “I am not insulting but Chaudhry Shujaat has become disabled, while Tariq Bashir Cheema has hijacked the party,” he alleged.