ISLAMABAD – The unification bloc in the Punjab has finalised its strategy to turn tables on the Chaudhrys-led PML-Q with the support of 46 members with the formation of a separate parliamentary group in the provincial assembly to finally deal a deadly blow to the mother party.
A source confided to Pakistan Today that the unification bloc had won the support of 46 members of the Punjab Assembly against 32 in the Chaudhrys’ group. This group would show its strength to the media this week. The total numerical strength of the PML-Q in the provincial assembly is 83. A source in the unification bloc told Pakistan Today that after showing its strength in public, the bloc would formally approach the speaker of the Punjab Assembly asking to be recognized and considered a separate parliamentary faction of the PML-Q.
When contacted, Dr Tahir Ali Javed, the parliamentary leader of the unification bloc of the PML-Q, confirmed that the stage was set for the development his group was vying for around two years.
“Under a new strategy, we have got an application signed by 42 members of our group. The rest four are out of country and will sign this application on Wednesday (today) or Thursday. Then we will show our strength to the media and then will move the speaker for ruling in our favour,” he said. Brushing aside the rumours of a split within his group, Javed said only Amir Cheema had left his group.
“Two of our former friends have been re-elected on PML-N tickets while one has lost. Amir Cheema had joined the Pervaiz Elahi group. Now we have support of 46 MPAs while Elahi group has only 32 members of which 20 are male and 12 are female,” he added. He said his group had moved an application with the Punjab Assembly speaker in June 2009 to given ruling that they were majority party while the Pervaiz Elahi group was in minority. “At that time 50 MPAs had signed that application. Now we have 46 members with us,” he added. Asked whether he had the blessings of the Punjab government in this regard, Javed said he had met Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif the other day but this particular issue was not on the agenda. “We only discussed the PML-N agenda given to the federal government. The chief minister lauded the role of unification bloc for unification of different groups of the Muslims League,” he added. Asked about his reported differences with Atta Muhammad Maneka, Javed said there was no truth in such reports, adding he was on the same page with Maneka. “Even my name for leading the group was presented and endorsed by Maneka sahib. All such reports are false and we are united,” he added. Punjab government spokesman Parvez Rasheed told Pakistan Today that keeping in view the pressing demand by the unification bloc leaders in this regard, the Punjab government has decided to take steps in accordance with the law for the redressal of their grievance, asking the Speaker Punjab Assembly to act in accordance with the relevant law.
