LAHORE: In his continued efforts to save his government which political observers term a ‘vulnerable set-up’, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday met his government’s key allies — Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leaders Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi — at their residence in Lahore in a bid to ensure their support as opposition parties prepare to move a no-confidence motion against the premier.
The PML-Q, which is also an ally of the PTI government in 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.
The premier’s meeting with Elahi and Shujaat comes after a string of recent meetings between the PML-Q leadership and major opposition leaders — Shehbaz Sharif, Asif Ali Zardari, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Maulana Fazlur Rehman — all of whom are vying for the Chaudhry brothers’ support to send PM Imran’s government packing.
Videos of today’s meeting shared by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) showed that Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, Energy Minister Hammad Azhar, Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood, Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood and PML-Q MNAs, including Shafay Hussain and Salik Hussain, among others, were also present on the occasion.
The PMO said the current political situation in the country and other matters of mutual interest were discussed in detail during the meeting.
While senior federal ministers have dismissed the opposition’s threat to bring down the government, some of the key allies of the ruling administrations have held meetings with prominent opposition figures in recent weeks.
The opposition factions require 172 votes in the 342-member National Assembly to topple the ruling administration by introducing a no-confidence motion. Currently, the opposition factions only have 156 seats in the assembly and are short of 16 votes to implement their plan.
However, they are trying to enlist the support of the government’s allied parties to ensure the success of their anti-government strategy. The Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) has also remained in talks with the opposition parties, though its support has remained vital for the government at the center and in Punjab.
“Prime Minister Imran Khan met the country’s former premier Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Speaker of Punjab Assembly Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and discussed the prevailing political situation and other issues of mutual interest,” reported the state-owned Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency while mentioning the top two PML-Q leaders. “The prime minister particularly inquired about Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain’s health and prayed for his early recovery.”
Earlier, Khan held a meeting with Punjab chief minister Usman Buzdar and instructed him to take measures to ensure the provision of immediate and effective services to the common man in Punjab, the APP reported.
They also had detailed discussion over the administrative situation in the province.
The prime minister was also briefed about the law and order situation along with the ongoing development projects in Punjab.
Separately, Chaudhry Shujaat’s son and MNA Shahfay Hussain told Dawn.com that the meeting took place in a “pleasant environment” and the conversation focused on the economy and PM Imran’s recent visit to Russia.
According to a press release issued by the PML-Q after the meeting, party president Shujaat appreciated the government’s decision to reduce petrol and electricity prices and suggested that PM Imran may “assign duties to his ministers to monitor prices in the markets” so that the benefits of such relief measures could reach the grassroots.
The press release said Shujaat and Elahi also appreciated the premier’s recent visit to Moscow, the timing of which was questioned by some sections in light of an ongoing Russian offensive in Ukraine.
Elahi, who is also the Punjab Assembly speaker, appreciated the announcement of a package to “restore industries” by the prime minister earlier today and recommended that a similar package be introduced to specifically target Punjab’s industrial estates.
At this, PM Imran said it was a good idea and Punjab’s industries would also be covered under the package, according to the press release.
PM Imran inquired after Shujaat’s wellbeing, the press release said, adding that the premier wished the ailing PML-Q leader good health.
There had been speculation that PM Imran would hold a meeting with the PML-Q leaders, who have been approached in recent days by various opposition parties seeking support for a no-confidence motion against the PTI government.
For weeks, the opposition has been saying that it intends to remove the PTI government through a no-trust move in parliament after Maulana Fazlur Rehman, president of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), which is an anti-government alliance of opposition parties, formally announced the plan on February 11.