News Analysis |
The leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q), Chaudhry Parvez Elahi, returned to the Punjab Assembly after eleven years. He was elected as speaker of the Punjab Assembly on Thursday, 16th of August. The PML-Q leader received 201 votes – more than expected – and defeated his opponent from Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Chaudhry Iqbal, who obtained 147 votes.
Interestingly, last time Mr. Elahi was in the provincial house in 2007 when he served as provincial chief minister, before the government under former president Pervez Musharraf was dissolved and a snap election was called. “I thank Imran Khan and the entire house for supporting my candidacy,” Elahi said after his glorious victory. “I will take the entire house along and conduct the business of the house in a positive manner,” he said.
Political Career of Pervez Elahi: A Brief Sketch
Pervez Elahi, a seasoned politician and now an ally of the PTI, was born to an influential family in Gujrat. He graduated from the Forman Christian College in Lahore before completing a diploma in Industrial Management from London. Since the 1980s, the politician has been in different political pools. His initial stint in the government began at the local level, and by 1985, he was elected to the Punjab Assembly. Thereon, began a winning streak.
PTI required the help of some independent candidates and PML-Q to form the government. After a meeting with the chairman, Imran Khan, the leadership of PML-Q announced their support to form a PTI-led government in the province.
He made it to the provincial assembly six times consecutively – in 1985, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1997 and 2002 – from the Pakistan Muslim League platform, headed by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. A break from the political party came after the 1999 bloodless coup, which paved way for General Musharraf to sweep into power. That year, an accountability watchdog pursued and detained Elahi on corruption charges. In 2000, soon after Nawaz’s dismissal from office, his political party began to rupture at home.
PML-Q then entered into an agreement with the former president Pervez Musharraf. Interestingly, the party launched with only a few dozen likeminded politicians, including Mian Mohammad Azhar, Khurshid Kasur and Syeda Abida Hussain. But that did not stop them from winning 69 general seats, in the Parliament, out of 272 in 2002. From October 2002 to 2007, the seasoned politician served as the chief minister of Punjab, while Shujaat Hussain was appointed the president of the PML-Q.
Read more: Elahi and PML-Q in Punjab?
PML-Q: An Ally of PTI
Even prior to the General elections 2018, PTI and PML-Q entered into a formal political agreement for a seat adjustment in NA-69 and PP-31. Both parties agreed to facilitate each other. Later on, PTI emerged as the party leading in the Center, KPK and Punjab. But in Punjab, PTI required the help of some independent candidates and PML-Q to form the government. After a meeting with the chairman, Imran Khan, the leadership of PML-Q announced their support to form a PTI-led government in the province.
The leader of PML-Q, Moonis Elahi, tweeted and said that his party has decided to back PTI in this critical situation. #PMLQ leadership met @ImranKhanPTI and other members of PTI team. We have decided to support them for betterment of #Pakistan as our country is passing through a critical time.
#PMLQ leadership met @ImranKhanPTI and other members of PTI team. We have decided to support them for betterment of #Pakistan as our country is passing through a critical time. pic.twitter.com/ly8yJhgFbL
— Moonis Elahi (@MoonisElahi6) July 30, 2018
Originally, PML-Q had 7 seats but one of the independent candidates has also joined the party. Therefore, PML-Q now has 8 seats in hand.
Read more: PML-Q decides to back PTI in Punjab
It is expected that both, PTI and PML-Q, will implement the idea of change introduced by the Prime Minister in-waiting, Imran Khan. Khan has outlined an anti-corruption agenda to strengthen institutions in the country. Many analysts now believe that Imran may face some difficulty in implementing his idea of Naya Paksiatn, because of new allies in the government. We are yet to see how Mr. Khan deals with his allies and ensures the implementation of his idea.