LAHORE: In a fresh revelation, Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan had offered him if the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) merged with his party. If he does, he will be made the party president in the province, The News reported on Wednesday.
Last week, the chief minister had hinted at the possibility of a merger between the PTI and the Muslim League (Q). The merger proposal was shared by Khan in a meeting last Friday.
Speaking to the media at an event in Lahore, Chief Minister Elahi clarified that his party must consult its voters and workers before taking any such decision.
The Chief Minister said that Muslim League (Q) has 10 Members of Provincial Assembly (MPA) in Punjab and they have to consult the people of their constituencies first. He said that no decision has been taken in this regard yet.
Chief Minister Elahi while replying to a question regarding the show cause notice given to him by Muslim League (Q) President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain said that Imran Khan is his benefactor whom he can never forget.
On 16 January, the Muslim League (Q) suspended Elahi’s basic party membership for discussing the possibility of his party’s merger with the PTI.
The show-cause notice sent to Elahi said that Shujaat convened an emergency meeting of senior leaders, where it was noted that provincial president Elahi did not have the authority to merge the party into the PTI.
“Your [Elahi] party membership is suspended pending clarification,” reads the notice, a copy of which has also been sent to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
The statement added that the Muslim League (Q) as a political party maintains its individual identity, vote bank, party discipline and rules and regulations which Elahi violated through his statements.
Speaking on the matter, CM Elahi said that those who served his Shukaaz were restless.
Also, sources say that most senior PTI leaders have opposed the idea of a merger. He believes that this could seriously damage the party and only benefit the PML-Q as he still believes that the PTI is capable of winning elections on its own.
Similarly, some members representing the senior cadre of the PTI believe that – the PTI chief is already under threat of disqualification – rather than going for a merger with the PML-Q. One should trust the stalwarts of his party to lead eventually. Mian took advantage of a similar situation in Azhar’s case.
However, senior party leader Shafqat Mehmood, when contacted, dispelled this impression and said that no one has any objection to the matter.
