Chaudhrys of Gujrat bridge divide

Elahi meets Shujaat to mend family relations

LAHORE:

Tensions between Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Chaudhry Parvez Elahi have eased following a meeting between the two leaders, focused solely on improving the family relations, Express News reported on Thursday, quoting its sources.

According to sources, the meeting between the Chaudhry brothers was facilitated by Chaudhry Wajahat Hussain, who reportedly convinced Elahi to visit his cousin Shujaat. During the meeting, the report stated that they agreed to resolve personal and family matters through dialogue.

The discord within one of the most powerful political families of the country, was triggered in March 2022 when former prime minister Imran Khan's government was facing a no-confidence motion. The Chaudhrys of Gujrat had sided with the opposition, but suddenly Elahi switched side.

Elahi's decision to throw his weight behind the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) against the then Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) saw him becoming the Punjab chief minister, although Imran himself was unable to defeat the no-confidence motion and lost the premiership.

Elahi's decision also divided their Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) into two camps. Later, Elahi joined the PTI and became its Central President. Elahi dissolved the provincial assembly in January 2023 on the instructions of Imran in the hope of getting early elections, but the polls were delayed by a year.

He was arrested a month after the May 9, 2023 violence and remained in jail until May this year. However, since his release, he had not given any political statement. On his release on May 21, he had said in an X post that he stood firmly with the PTI founder.

"I am very grateful to Allah for making me exonerated and encouraging me to remain steadfast. I am grateful to those judges who supported the truth and I was released. I am also grateful to all those who prayed for me and supported me in this difficult time."