Rare contact: First Nawaz phone call to Shujaat in a decade
In a bid to neutralise the possibility of a joint protest by the opposition, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had approached the Chaudhrys of Gujrat for the first time in over a decade, The Express Tribune has learnt.
“Nawaz Sharif made a telephonic contact with Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain just before Ramazan and invited him for a meeting,” a close aide of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader said. “Shujaat told him that he would respond after consulting his colleagues.”
However, Prime Minister Nawaz’s decision to contact Shujaat for the first time since his government was toppled in a military coup in 1999 bore no fruit and the PML-Q leader never returned the premier’s call.
The Chaudhrys of Gujrat have been playing a pivotal role in launching a movement against the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government. With the alleged backing of some covert forces, they have been playing a crucial role in coalescing opposition parties for the movement. Chaudhry Shujaat, in particular, has been involved in hectic efforts to launch such a movement.
According to sources, the PML-Q leader was tasked by Pakistan Awami Tehreek chief Dr Tahirul Qadri – who joined hands with the Chaudhrys in June – to contact other parties and convince them to join his self-proclaimed ‘revolution’. Reportedly, Shujaat also played a role in bridging differences between Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Tahirul Qadri’s PAT.
It is understood that the premier’s invitation to Shujaat for a meeting was a bid to woo the PML-Q away from the PAT and weaken any protest movement against his government.
Chaudhry Shujaat and his cousin Chaudhry Pervez Elahi were once part of the Nawaz Sharif-led Pakistan Muslim League (PML). They developed differences with Nawaz after he favoured his brother Shahbaz Sharif for the office of Punjab chief minister following the 1997 elections. The Chaudhrys felt betrayed since they had reportedly been promised the top slot.
Later, under then military ruler Pervez Musharraf, Chaudhry Shujaat’s PML faction ruled the country from 2002 to 2007. They also joined the coalition government of the Pakistan Peoples Party, which was defeated by the PML-N in the 2013 elections.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 1st, 2014.
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@Rawalpindi Kid: I find your comment very funny when you write Chaudhry Shujat as "honest". You are either probably related to him or are totally ignorant of his systematic corruption in so many state institutions since he has been part of almost every government during the last 30 years. During my practice in Pakistan I have personally met his family at Hali Road. After a few meetings I could see his wheeling-dealings. I have met him here in Central London. I will advise you to read about his Offshore accounts in Olive Grove BVI and Corruption scams on NICL, BoP, EOBI etc available on ET's archives.
@Muslim Leaguer So does that absolve nawaz of the responsibility of that attack. Speaks volumes of his Nehari Leadership if he didn't have a clue what was happening below his nose.
@Ch. Allah Daad: Guess thats how the "Chowdry's" are.. On call or a call away..
@Masood Mirza Bar-at-Law: Thank you for sharing the detailed background of Ch Shujat. As a regular reader of Express Tribune, I had read most of the articles on NICL, BOP, EOBI etc published in the ET. It is a matter of sorrow that so-called inquilabs are dependent on chronic corrupts. . @ Rawalpindi Kid: As your nick implies you are oblivious of the facts. All the holier-than-though people involved in Supreme Court attack were inducted in PML-Q by the dictator Musharraf. They included Tariq Aziz (Neelam Ghar fame), Mushahid Hussain and Ch Akhtar Rasool. Your comparison of corrupt opportunists like Ch Shujat and defending him speaks your mind frame & therefore requires no comment!
@Masood Mirza Bar-at-Law: Ch. Shujat is a thousand times better than the Sharif liars. At least he is honest in his comments, unlike the Sharifs (who can forget the lies about the nonexistance of the 10 year agreement to stay out of politics and then backing out on that written agreement, the bullet train, ending load shedding in 6 months etc.), not to speak of the attacks on the supreme court and killing of innocent PAT workers. PMLQ govt delivered big economic and social growth in Pakistan 2002-2007. For your information Shaukat Aziz was not interested in running for a seat after he left the PM post, so your comments there are not accurate.
@ Ch Allah Dad
Chaudarys of Gujrat are your so called Dark Forces or atleast partners of Dark Forces so why your master calling them now? Any explanation plz
@salman: "Thank you, but not sure what part of my statement you think is genius :)"
Seems it was sarcasm and not compliment!
BTW, does Journalism teach to newspapers publishers & editors on payroll like Malik Riaz crook and spread false news? Express news is going to become second news channel and newspaper after ARY who is basically completely not impartial :)
@LHR: Thank you, but not sure what part of my statement you think is genius :)
PTI were never going to sweep the elections. But neither were PMLN. PMLN could have got the highest number of seats and been in the driving seat if there was going to be a coalition govt.
Nothing you have posted has critiqued that opinion, so I'll stand by it.
@salman: Yes this is how political leaders start the dialogue.....if they have not spoken for a decade???? however political common sense dictates that under such circumstances matters are agreed up by lower cadre party and then invitation is extended..........but as unknown PMLQ leader has said this .......it must be true!
@salman: " IF only PMLN had not rigged elections, they would still have been the majority party in a coalition govt. Mian sahib could still have been PM" Pure genius....hard to beat this one by any PTIan!
@Mirza: Seems like someone slept through PML-Q's journey from Qatil league to Q league?!Who made the chothay choudhary sb the Deputy PM,wasnt it PPP? The opposition is right wing no doubt but there goes you liberal read pseudo PPP too.
@LHR: "only tribune reporting this!" Excellent job by tribune!
Further proof of panic by PMLN. IF only PMLN had not rigged elections, they would still have been the majority party in a coalition govt. Mian sahib could still have been PM. But cheats never learn do they?
only tribune reporting this!
It's amazing that PTI members who claim to be anti-corruption have no problems with Imran Khan joining hands with the likes of Chaudhry brothers/Shaikh Rasheed/Pervez Musharraf, all of whom were able to come in power through the controversial 2002 elections and whose corruption was no worse than of other politicians in the country. But when it comes to getting their supposed insaf-pasand-saaf Imran Khan into power, their ideals don't matter much anymore. They are okay with the utilization of any means long as they get their end.
PMLN said whole PMLQ party could be accommodated on a bicycle on numerous occasions. Here is the proof of PMLN dirty politics to save their rigged Govt. It doesn't surprised me though, there would be many more to come in coming days......
it is the habit of shareef "s brothers when in problem they catch you by by you shoe,when they are not in problem they you by the neck
Chaudhrys of Gujrat & Shaikh Rashid have always been in power and with the powerful establishment. They have always formed the govt just like some other parties and politicians. They cannot exist without power as they do not have any base in masses. It is not surprising that both the rightwing opposition and NS are having a bidding war for Chaudhrys of Gujrat. It also proves that there is not much difference between the two parties who are only fighting for more power. Every lota no matter how old and used may be is still dear to both rightwing groups of IK/Qadri and NS.
If it happened before Ramadhan why was it published now. If this news had been true it would have been published in all the newspapers.
Birds of a feather, flock together .......... even after 1000 years.
Too late!
Now one will play flute and the other one will do Tabla.
The clueless and the devious getting together again, hope some good transpires from this communication, though
Let's see how much money Shujahat asks. Time to get rich and kill democracy.
Now you see what NS can do to hide the election rigging. Am I surprised ? why N-league is not contacting IK directly and talk to PTI on election reforms and the election commission formation. What IK want is to investigate and put those ECP people behind bar who manage the rigging, who did not order the write ink or did not use it, who voted multiple times, who stuffed ballots in the bags more than the number of votes. Is NS ready to pay a bigger price to PML-Q ?
Chaudhrys of Gujrat and Sheikh Rashid were just one call away. Their wait is over.
Nawaz Shariff's fear is a clear proof of his fraud based electoral win.
Are u kidding? What is Shujaat and his 2 man party going to bring to the protest anyways? Waste of time.
NS would do anything to save his and his family's business venture.