Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Co-Chairperson Asif Ali Zardari in a recent meeting with Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain gave guaranteed that Hamza Shahbaz would not be appointed Punjab’s chief minister under the new system.
According to media reports, in the meeting conducted in Islamabad, issues of “common interests,” the country’s general position, Punjab’s present political crisis, fear of assembly dissolution, and other issues were discussed.
The two leaders met on Sunday to discuss a new political approach days after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan threatened to dissolve provincial assemblies in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
According to the reports, Zardari asked not to dissolve the assembly and promised a new arrangement following the talks.
Shujaat promised the former president that he would speak with the Chief Minister of Punjab Parvez Elahi.
Zardari has started conducting discussions with his allies about the political climate in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as well as a potential motion of no confidence against the Punjab chief minister.
The Imran Khan-led PTI has been attempting to pressure the current administration to call immediate elections and has been in talks to set a date for the general election. If elections are not called, the PTI has threatened to dissolve the provincial assemblies.
CM Elahi stated that he did not anticipate elections happening in the next four months. The federal and provincial governments require time to function, so elections cannot be held before four months.
Despite the repeated claims that he completely supports the PTI leader’s choices, his words run counter to Khan’s threats to dissolve the assembly.
