Coalition partners join heads to reclaim Punjab

The parliamentary leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on Monday put their heads together to reclaim Punjab.

A meeting of the joint parliamentary party was held in which more than 160 members were in attendance. Sources said federal ministers Rana Sanaullah, Khawaja Asif, Azam Nazeer Tarar and Special Assistant to Prime Minister Ataullah Tarar were also present. Federal Minister for Railways and Aviation Khawaja Saad Rafique, the senior party leader, who presided over the meeting, admitted that PTI Chairman Imran Khan was doing “good politics” with them.

He said that Hamza Shehbaz was not active due to which the PML-N was facing difficulties in Punjab. He added that he asked the prime minister to ask Hamza to form a strong opposition in Punjab.

“If we do not get a place now, we would not even get a place to put our feet in Punjab,” sources quoted him as telling the participants of the meeting. “If we get Punjab for four to five months, we will do a lot.”

Punjab Assembly Parliamentary Leader Hasan Murtaza said that they need to be proactive otherwise the PTI would take things away from them.

Later, Saad, while addressing the media alongside Malik Ahmed Khan, said that everyone was present in the meeting.

He said that their count was complete, and no members were missing.

He urged Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi to take a vote of confidence

“They do not have the required members,” he added. “We will take justice from the court. The solution should have been in parliament, but it is forced to go to the court.”

Saad said Hamza will be back soon.

Alluding to the political opposition, he remarked that when politics goes into the hands of dwarfs, the decisions go to the courts.