Imran visits PML-Q leaders’ home to mend strained ties
ISLAMABAD: Prime mini ste rim rank han has mended fences with his allied party, Pakistan Muslim LeagueQuaid (PML-Q), ater having highly strained relations since a long time.
Imran visited the residence of the Chaudhrys of Gujrat - PML-Q President and Punjab Assembly Speaker Pervez Elahi — for the first time since he assumed the office over two years ago.
The premier’s visit to inquire ater Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain may lead to improve the relations between the two allies, which had been strained for quite some time over a host of issues, both sides said. The PML-Q is the only ally Imran paid a personal visit to.
PML-Q member of the National Assembly and son of Pervez Elahi, Moonis Elahi, received the premier at their residence.
Imran met Hussain and asked him about his health and wished him fast recovery. In the meeting, Parvez Elahi, federal minister Tariq Bashir Cheema, Moonis Elahi, Salik Hussain and Hussain Elahi - Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, Shahbaz Gill, Shafay Hussain and Muhammad Khan Bhati were also present.
The prime minister held a separate meeting with Hussain and Parvez Elahi for 30 or so minutes in which Elahi told him about his party’s concerns. “The meeting helped thrash out the differences between the allies,” a party insider said.
He said Elahi asked the premier to have a ‘direct dialing’ with the PML-Q leadership as those close to him were causing misunderstanding between the two allies. “Elahi did not seek a second federal ministry for his party as decided earlier in an agreement between the two sides. Elahi was more concerned about involving his party in important decision making,” he said.
Hussain was admited to hospital last week ater his condition deteriorated because of a chest infection. Imran had then telephoned the Chaudhry family to inquire ater his health.
In a separate development, a judge on Thursday released on bail former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s son, Ali Musa, and seven others, who had been arrested by police on Wednesday for making arrangements for a public meeting of the opposition alliance, Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), in Multan on Nov.30.