PML-Q hints at severing ties with PTI

Party authorises Pervaiz Elahi to decide on its alliance with ruling party

The parliamentary party of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) has authorised its provincial president and Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi to make any decision regarding its alliance with the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI).

The decision was made on Sunday after the parliamentary party of PML-Q met in Lahore to devise its future strategy.

Members of national assembly (MNAs) and members of provincial assembly (MPAs) of PML-Q expressed severe reservations over hyperinflation and prevailing unemployment in the country. The parliamentarians were perturbed by the increase in dollar, petrol, electricity and gas prices, as they said that “inflation has made the life of a common man miserable.”

“It has become quite difficult to support the government in these circumstances. It is equally difficult for people’s representatives to face the public in their constituencies,” said the lawmakers after the meeting.

They were of the view that the government had failed to resolve the problems faced by the people. The situation would further worsen if no relief was offered to the common man, they added. All the MNAs and MPAs present in the meeting gave the decision power to Elahi.

The meeting was attended by Minister for Water Resources Ch Moonis Elahi and Minister for Housing Ch Tariq Bashir Cheema. Provincial Ministers Bao Rizwan and Hafiz Ammar Yasir were also present in the meeting.

The reservations expressed by the PML-Q have come at a time when the ruling PTI cannot afford to lose its important ally at this time when the opposition has also been planning a decisive protest movement against the government. Currently, the PML-Q has five MNAs, ten MPAs and one senator; the Punjab government would easily collapse if Elahi took back support for the ruling party led by Chief Minister Usman Buzdar.