LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) senior leader and Speaker Punjab Assembly Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi Thursday laughed off media reports suggesting that the opposition’s purported move to table a no trust move against Prime Minister Imran Khan had unsettled the premier.
Speaking to journalists here, Pervaiz Elahi, who is the focus of media these days, said that Prime Minister Imran Khan was ‘not worried at all’ about the opposition’s move.
Elahi made this remark in response to a reporter’s question referring to a statement by his son, Water Resources Minister Moonis Elahi, regarding the opposition stepping up efforts and approaching the PML-Q and Mutahidda Qaumi Movement (MQM-P) leaders to seek their support for tabling a no-confidence motion against the prime minister.
The statement came following Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Wednesday that the opposition would be tabling a no trust move within next 48 hours.
The PML-Q, which is an ally of the PTI government in the Centre and Punjab, has assumed much more importance since opposition parties stepped up efforts to dislodge the government through a no-trust move. In order for such a move to succeed, the opposition would require PML-Q’s votes in the National Assembly.
Moonis calls on PM Khan, vows to work together with PM Khan
Separately, Federal Minister for Water Resources Moonis Elahi agreed to work alongside Prime Minister Imran Khan for Pakistan’s betterment.
Sharing a video of his meeting with the premier and Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar, the PML-Q leader wrote: “For generations, our family has always honoured commitments. Met @ImranKhanPTI sb with @Asad_Umar sb”.
“Agreed on working together for Pakistan’s betterment,” he added.
Retweeting his tweet, Umar wrote: “InshaAllah, will continue to work together for Pakistan”.
The planning minister wrote: “With our family ties, which span more than one generation, I know that your family honours commitments”.
Earlier this week, PM Imran Khan held a short meeting with the Chaudhry brothers of PML-Q as the Opposition targets PTI’s allies to topple the incumbent government.
The prime minister’s meeting at the Chaudhry brother’s residence in Lahore — which was more than 30 minutes long — with PML-Q’s top brass, who are allies of the government in Punjab and the Centre, came as he was on a one-day visit to the provincial capital.
Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mehmood, Energy Minister Hammad Azhar, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar, and other PTI leaders had accompanied the prime minister during the meeting.
Apart from former prime minister Chaudhry Shujaat and Speaker Punjab Assembly Pervaiz Elahi, MNA Salik Hussain and Shafay Hussain were also part of the meeting.
During the meeting, the prime minister inquired about Shujaat’s health. The former prime minister thanked PM Imran Khan for visiting his house and inquiring about his health.
In a notable development on this front, PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif had approached Shujaat for the first time in 14 years earlier this month. However, Prime Minister Imran Khan had said a day later that Moonis had conveyed to the PTI that “We shouldn’t worry about the meetings.” The premier had said this while addressing a ceremony in Islamabad, where Moonis was also present.
When a reporter referred to the statement today and asked Pervaiz Elahi whether he had the same message for the prime minister as Moonis, he laughed and then replied that PM Imran is not worried. “He is not worried at all,” he asserted.
Pervaiz’s statement comes after PM Imran called on the PML-Q leadership on Tuesday, in a bid to ensure their support as opposition parties prepare to move a no-confidence motion against the premier.
When asked whether the much-talked-about no-trust move was discussed during the meeting, the PML-Q leader replied in the negative.
To another question about the opposition’s plans of tabling the no-confidence motion, Pervaiz made a cryptic remark.
“Ingredients are in the pot and I will speak on this after smoke rises after the first boil.”
Asked what would be the outcome of the no-confidence motion, he said, “Such a large pot is on the stove. Something will come out of it.”
When a reporter asked him to share his views on a statement issued by PDM spokesperson Hafiz Hamdullah that quoted Fazl as saying that the opposition would submit the no-confidence motion in the next 48 hours, Pervaiz said only the PDM president could speak on the matter.
He also appreciated the government’s decision to reduce petrol and electricity prices as part of a series of relief measures amid rising inflation in the country.
The Chaudhrys’ residence has been a hub of political activities over the last month or so, hosting opposition leaders, from PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif and PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari to Fazl, all of whom hoped to win over the government ally for a possible no-trust move.
However, the most recent visit to the Chaudhrys was not by an opposition leader but PM Imran and a group of federal ministers.
Shujaat had told the prime minister during the visit, “Shehbaz Sharif came to inquire after my health a few days ago and offered the chief ministership [of Punjab] to Pervaiz Elahi [in exchange for voting against Imran Khan].”
“However, we know them well and do not trust them. He had offered us the same slot [in the 90s], but backed off after winning the elections. The excuse was that his father did not agree to the proposal,” the report quoted him as saying. “Although he has offered it again, we don’t trust (him) and continue to stand by the government,” the report quoted Shujaat as saying.
