Shehbaz, Zardari invoke Shujaat’s magic

The ruling coalition tasked seasoned politician Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain on Sunday with preventing the dissolution of the Punjab Assembly by his cousin and fellow PML-Q leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, a day after former prime minister Imran Khan set December 23 as the date for his extreme measure to force fresh general elections in the country.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a meeting with Chaudhry Shujaat, the president of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid-e-Azam (PML-Q) and discussed with him “the ongoing political situation”. After the meeting, Shehbaz met Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Co-Chairman Asif Zardari at his residence in Lahore.

After both the meetings, the prime minister contacted his elder brother and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif in London and apprised him of his consultations with the two major coalition partners of the government.

According to sources, it was agreed that the federal ministers from the PML-N would contact the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) leaders for consultation on moving a no-confidence motion in the Punjab Assembly or asking Chief Minister Elahi to seek the vote of confidence.

PTI Chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan had announced on November 26, while culminating his long march last month, that he would dissolve the provincial assemblies of Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, where the PTI was in power. He also said that the PTI lawmakers in Sindh and Balochistan would also resign.

After consulting party leaders and lawmakers for three weeks, Imran announced on Saturday that the dissolution would take place on Friday, December 23. The dissolution and resignations would trigger fresh election within 90 days in nearly two-thirds of the total constituencies.

Since Imran’s announcement, the ruling coalition has stepped up its efforts to prevent such a scenario, particularly the dissolution of the Punjab Assembly. In this regard, Shehbaz came to Lahore on Sunday and held back-to-back meetings with Shujaat and Zardari.

According to the Express News, Shehbaz and Zardari agreed to entrust the task of stopping the dissolution of the Punjab Assembly to Chaudhry Shujaat. Quoting the PPP sources, the report added that the final decision regarding the Punjab Assembly situation would be taken with the consent of the PML-Q chief.

Former president Zardari reached Shehbaz’s residence in Model Town in the evening, according to the Media Wing of the Prime Minister’s Office. It said that the two leaders discussed important issues, including the overall political and economic situation of the country.

The official statement did not mention the Punjab situation. “It was agreed in the meeting that the government would not allow anyone to create political instability in the country,” it said, adding that it was also decided in the meeting that decisive action would be taken against those conspiring for the country’s default.

“The two leaders agreed that the coalition government will continue to move forward steadily for political stability, economic improvement in the country. Political stability is essential for Pakistan's economic stability and the government will go to any extent to protect the country from economic threats,” it said.

“Consultation was also held on the provision of relief to the people. The two leaders agreed to speed up efforts to lessen the burden of inflation on the masses. Zardari appreciated reduction in the fuel prices,” the statement said. They also resolved to speed up relief work for the flood victims to protect them from the winter cold.

Before meeting Zardari, the prime minister went to the residence of Shujaat in the Punjab capital. During the meeting, Shehbaz inquired after his health and presented him a bouquet. The two leaders also discussed the political situation of the country.

During the meeting, the prime minister apprised the PML-Q chief of the steps taken by the government to fix the economy and give relief to the masses. Shujaat appreciated the sincere efforts of the prime minister to get the country and the people out of the quagmire.

Both the leaders agreed to continue their cooperation and collaboration in the future. They were of the view that political stability and close cooperation were necessary to get the country out of the problems it was currently facing.