PML-Q to keep Chaudhrys away
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
By Mazhar Tufail
ISLAMABAD: An important meeting of senior leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) is going to be held at the residence of former commerce minister Humayun Akhter Khan here on Thursday (tomorrow) to discuss as to how Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi could be kept out of the next party elections, it was learnt here on Tuesday.
A ccording to a source in the former ruling party, the meeting would be attended by, among others, Chaudhry Hamid Nasir Chattha, Ejazul Haq, Muhammad Ali Durrani, Salim Saifullah Khan, Lala Nisar, Iqbal Dar, Gohar Ayub Khan, Jan Muhammad Jamali, Akram Zaki, Khursheed Mahmud Kasuri, Sumera Malik and possibly Mushahid Hussain Sayed.
“The meeting is aimed at keeping Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi out of the next party elections, as the term of the sitting party office-bearers is going to end next month [May],” said the source, who wished not to be identified. “Almost all the senior PML-Q leaders want to sideline Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi,” he said.
The source said the senior party leaders wanted that the leadership, to be elected in the next party elections, could establish a working relationship with the PML-N. And this was not possible in the presence of Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, he added.
When contacted, former information minister Muhammad Ali Durrani refused to confirm or deny the holding of the meeting. He, however, said the senior party leaders wanted to avoid any delay in the party elections after the completion of the tenure of the incumbent office-bearers. “The senior PML-Q leaders want that the party should not be allowed to be turned into a family enterprise,” he said.
“Our differences with Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi are based on principles and are very much there. We will not allow anybody to make the party a family venture,” Chaudhry Hamid Nasir Chattha told The News.
Talking to this correspondent, Salim Saifullah Khan said majority of the party members wanted new party elections, so that new office-bearers were elected, who could improve the relationship with the PML-N.
He said that keeping in view his services for the party, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain could be made chairman of the party, but he should stay away from the elections for the top party office.
“The senior party leaders have decided to adopt an aggressive policy as far as the Chaudhry brothers are concerned, because they believe if a working relationship is not established with the PML-N, the PML-Q would stand wiped out from the political horizon of the country,” said another PML-Q leader, wishing anonymity.
So will PML(Q) members really go through with this and sideline the 2 who were most praised by ex-President, and considered his confidants? Can PML(Q) sustain itself without the leadership of Chaudhry bros? PML(N) to follow suit later?