Federal Minister for Water Resources and PML-Q leader Moonis Elahi takes offense to Federal Minister of Interior Sheikh Rashid’s alleged accusations against PML-Q.
In a press conference today, Sheikh Rashid made a jab at PML-Q and accused the party of blackmail. To clarify, the media asked Sheikh Rasheed regarding his stance should the Opposition’s no-trust move succeed. In response, Sheikh Rashid expressed his full support for PM Khan. He also made a veiled jibe at PML-Q.
“I am not like those people with five [seats in the NA] and who are blackmailing [the government] for the province’s chief ministry,” the Minister said.
Important to note, earlier, reports emerged that PML-Q had demanded the seat of the Punjab Chief Minister in exchange for supporting the government.
Since the ruling PTI has allies from three provinces, the reporter asked at whom his criticism was directed. “I was talking about Punjab’s politics,” Rashid replied.
Read more: PML-Q against Aleem Khan as CM Punjab?
The Minister’s veiled accusation did not go unnoticed. Soon after, Moonis Elahi tweeted a clip of Sheikh Rashid and called out the Interior Minister.
In a statement, Elahi said he respected the interior minister but asked Rashid not to forget his past.
“Sheikh Rasheed might have forgotten that the leaders of [PML-Q] today are the ones who used to give money to him while he was a student,” the federal minister added.
میں شیخ صاحب @ShkhRasheed کی عزت کرتا ہوں لیکن یہ بھول رہے ہیں کہ اسی جماعت کے لیڈران کے بزرگوں سے جناب اپنی سٹوڈنٹ لائف میں پیسے لیا کرتے تھے pic.twitter.com/2Ds47MhtKE
— Moonis Elahi (@MoonisElahi6) March 12, 2022
Interestingly, Jam Kamal Khan also took note of Sheikh Rashid’s statements.
“Balochistan Awami Party takes its own decision, not Sheikh Rashid,” the BAP leader tweeted.
Balochistan Awami Party takes its own decission, not Sheikh Rashid. pic.twitter.com/H9v2N3DMCa
— Jam Kamal Khan (@jam_kamal) March 12, 2022
Will PML-Q support the government?
As the capital anticipates the no-trust move by the Opposition against the government, there is still a lot of uncertainty. While PML-Q has expressed support for the government on numerous occasions, there are chances that the party could move either way.
According to media reports, PML-Q convened a consultative meeting on Saturday in Lahore to address the present scenario in Punjab. Senior members of PML-Q attended the meeting.
As per the reports, participants concluded that no PTI ally is pleased with the federal government’s performance and that the PML-Q will have to make its own political decision shortly.
Read more: PPP makes big claim about PML-Q’s Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi!