News Analysis |
Speaker Punjab Assembly Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi loathed the former Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif for ruining the institutions of Punjab during his 10-year reign. Addressing the media before casting his vote for the presidential election at the Punjab Assembly premises, the Punjab Assembly speaker criticized PML-N president Shahbaz Sharif for inflicting too many injustices upon the people in Pakistan.
He particularly attacked the former regime of paying no heed to the institution—as “none was spared from being spoiled,” he added. Elahi condemned Shahbaz Sharif for hastily taking decisions—whose inconsistency has played havoc with the system in the most populous province of the country. He even criticized the Punjab Assembly lawmakers for not standing up to Shahbaz—when his unjust policies led to gross mismanagement in Punjab.
Pervez Elahi’s animosity with Sharif’s helped PTI in Punjab; nevertheless, PML-Q remains a threat to PTI itself, especially if Elahi decides to strengthen the party in presence of weaker CM like Usman Buzdar.
Continuing the offensive, he held Shehbaz responsible for not completing the Punjab Assembly building, despite the fact that 70 percent of its work had been completed in 2008. Elahi has vowed to work hard to yield the desired results for PM Khan. He assured the public that PTI led coalition government in Punjab was working hard to deliver the best.
In media, many reports surfaced which questioned the alliance of PTI with PML-Q. Many political pundits believe that Elahi won’t sit for too long as a coalition partner and PML-Q is destined to backstab Khan. On a question regarding the coalition government, Speaker Punjab assembly said, “as unity is a blessing, we will concentrate upon working hard, if we don’t deliver, well our fate would be similar to our predecessors.”
Read more: Ch. Pervez Elahi, an ally of PTI, returns to Punjab Assembly…
PTI government had faced a huge backlash over the austerity drive when its own members including CM Punjab Usman Buzdar and even, PM Imran Khan used the helicopter to commute. He asked the media to not criticize PTI government for at least 100 days as the government seemed to fulfill promises made to coalition partners in the federal government and to ensure the provision of facilities to the public.
Shahbaz worked as a one-man show. His admission in the later part of the campaign trail before July 25 elections that Punjab’s governance system was appalling and system needed reform, served as a self-humiliating blow. He sounded almost like then opposition leader Imran Khan.
Read more: CM Punjab: A simple man with ‘lavish style’
Elahi, however, is trying to settle the old score through this derogatory rhetoric against the ex-CM. Pervez Elahi’s animosity with Sharif’s helped PTI in Punjab; nevertheless, PML-Q remains a threat to PTI itself, especially if Elahi decides to strengthen the party in presence of weaker CM like Usman Buzdar. PTI is said to have completed its homework by installing a mix of young and experienced educated individuals on key ministries to counter any rebellion.