Possible completion of the PTI-Q merger in the coming months
According to Elahi, the PML-Q is taking Imran’s offer into consideration, and party members are going to gather together today in order to create a consensus.
The senior leadership of the PTI-PML-Q alliance has decided to stick together going into their next significant campaign in order to sail through the general elections with an intact electoral coalition, with a strong likelihood that the PML-Q will merge with the PTI. This decision was made in LAHORE, ahead of the country’s general elections.
Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, the leader of the PML-Q in Punjab, told the media after a meeting with PTI leader Imran Khan on Sunday night at his Zaman Park mansion that the former prime minister had suggested the PML-Q combine with the PTI.
“We are taking the PTI chairman’s offer into consideration, and we have already scheduled a meeting of our leadership for Monday (today),” he declared.
He revealed that PML-Q leader Chaudhry Moonis Elahi has already approved of the planned merger because it will benefit both parties.
“The PML-Q joining will make the PTI even stronger. Even after joining the PTI, we’ll still collaborate and work together, he insisted.
He added that a number of candidates, including former federal secretary Ahmad Nawaz Sukhera, former health minister Naseer Ahmad Khan, and former chief secretary Nasir Saeed Khosa, were discussed with Imran for the position of interim chief minister.
As it will be difficult for anyone to oppose to these names, “We are forwarding these names to Punjab Governor Muhammad Baligh-ur-Rehman and expect that consensus will be created on a name. The PML-N won’t consult with us, but it would provide the governor its suggested candidates instead, he added.
In response to a question, Elahi stated that Imran Khan had taken all necessary preparations to defeat Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the confidence vote. They are running away in a hurry because they are aware of our plans, and they want to avoid losing in the lower house as well.”
“Even after taking sleeping drugs, I think Shehbaz Sharif would have trouble falling asleep,” he joked.
In response to a different inquiry, he stated that neither the PML-N nor PPP had gotten in touch with him. He claimed that the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) is an alliance of “weary bullets” and declared that the constitution requires elections to be held within 90 days. There is no possibility of a delay.
Azam Suleman and Nasir Saeed Khosa, two former chief secretaries, are being considered by the PML-N for the position of acting chief minister. According to sources, the party will not take part in the consultation process and would instead prefer for the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to choose the interim chief minister’s name.
The PTI chairman gave instructions for establishing parliamentary boards at divisional levels within two days during the meeting. The boards will have the duty of creating lists of every candidate who has been shortlisted and submitting them to the central parliamentary board.
A blacklisting of party members who betrayed the group in a time of crisis was also discussed at the meeting. “When choosing candidates from minority groups and women, special consideration should be given. Their contributions to the party and the community would be taken into consideration, Imran said.
According to Article 224-A of the Constitution, the chief minister and the leader of the opposition must both unanimously agree on the name of the interim chief minister, PTI Senior Vice President and spokesperson Fawad Chaudhry tweeted.
“Two suggested names from each party will be referred to a parliamentary committee if the two leaders are unable to come to a compromise. The names will be given to the ECP, which will choose one of them to be the chief minister, if the parliamentary committee is unable to reach consensus on a candidate. The PTI leader made it clear that the commission lacks the authority to choose someone from the provided list.
Fawad summoned the opposition to a meeting to discuss the temporary administration while he was speaking to the media. He emphasised that his party will put forward two candidates for the position of acting chief minister.
Imran declines to meet with feuding leaders.
Also on Sunday, Imran Khan, the head of the PTI, turned away any party official who requested to speak with him. Instead, the party’s leader instructed them to reply to the show-cause notice that had been served on them for disobeying party rules during Elahi’s vote of confidence.
Although Fawad Chaudhry acknowledged that displeased party members were attempting to contact the party chairman, he insisted that there was “no need for this” at this time. Asad Umar, the party’s secretary general, should receive their response to the show-cause letter and an explanation of their position.
Faisal Cheema, Monia Waheed, and Khurram Laghari received show-cause notices after they chose to abstain from voting to support Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi.
The angry PTI members had made an effort to speak with the party leader and explain their situation.
Strong hostility was evident among PTI employees toward defected members, and demonstrations are currently taking place in their electoral districts against them for leaving the party at a key moment.
