ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leaders – Tariq Bashir Cheema and Salik Chaudhry Thursday termed Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain legal and constitutional head of the party, saying Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi’s move to re-elect party’s leadership was unconstitutional and illegal.
Addressing media here in Islamabad on Thursday, Tariq Bashir Cheema said decisions regarding the leadership of party will be made in Party’s General Council meeting that will be held soon with Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain in the chair.
“We had scheduled meeting of the general council in Islamabad for today and leadership of all the four provinces were supposed to be here but due to Ch Shujaat’s illness, the meeting could not take place”, Cheema informed.
He declared that Pervaiz Elahi cannot change the party leadership single handedly as the final decision regarding party’s head will be announced by the Election Commission of Pakistan.
He said: “They know about the ongoing drama in Lahore but will respond when the right time comes. That group plans to formally merge with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), though it would not bother them whatever party Parvez Elahi joins.”
Taking a jibe at the Q leaders, Mr Cheema said, “Today the drama was staged for extending the support to the PTI in the general election.” He said Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain is and will remain the leader of the PML-Q if the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) decided it on merit as it is not possible that the provincial president of the party replaces the supremo or stalwarts.”
Furthermore, Chaudhry Salik said, the party members should be informed 10 days before the general council meeting since all MPAs were not present at the general council meeting in Lahore. He added “Which people were present at the general council meeting today? The Q will be holding so-called elections in the party tomorrow. By law and constitutionally, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain is the party president.”
Chaudhry Salik Hussain said under the party’s constitution, only Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain can make final decision.
After the emergence of apparent differences within the party ranks, the PML-Q General Council on Thursday removed Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain as the party chief.
The decision was made during a consultative meeting of the party held at Pakistan Muslim League House in Lahore.
Brother of Shujaat Hussain, Chaudhry Wajahat Hussain, has been given command of the PML-Q. The meeting also removed Shujaat’s close aide, Tariq Bashir Cheema, and elected Kamil Ali Agha as the central secretary-general of the party.
