Former federal law minister Dr Babar Awan on Saturday denied that his party had struck a deal with the PML-Q by exploiting the Moonis Elahi case.
Talking to reporters at the walima reception of Chaudhry Salik Hussain, son of PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Awan said critics must keep in mind that the matter was in court and passing derogatory remarks would be tantamount to contempt of court. He said the political chaos in Punjab could have been overcome if PML-N leaders like Javed Hashmi were leading the party in Punjab.
He said the present legislative assembly was the only parliament that had entered its 4th legislative year after 1985 due to the reconciliatory politics of the PPP. Coming hard on PML-N leadership for criticizing PPP efforts’ to form a national government, Babar said the PPP was contacting all political forces in parliament to have a national consensus government, however, it was not carrying out this effort by hijacking the mandate of other political force.
The PPP leader said the throne of Lahore should keep in mind that there was a proposal to divide Punjab into five provinces, including the Siraiki province, Bahawalpur province, Potohar province, central Punjab province and the throne of Lahore. The walima reception turned into a political show with the participation of several key political figures. The father of the bridegroom, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, his uncle Chaudhary Pervaiz Elahi, brother Shafay Hussain and cousin Rasikh Elahi welcomed the guests on their arrival at the ceremony.
The participation at the function by senior figures from the PML-Q and PPP was giving an impression of a “big change”. The walima reception of Chaudhary Saalik Hussain, was held in Gulberg and the participation of PPP leaders Babar Awan, Rehman Malik, and Faryal Talpur attracted the attention of the media as well as other political figures at the ceremony.
Members of the president’s inner circle, other key political figures including Chaudhary Aitzaz Ahsan, former JI chief Qazi Hussain Ahmed, Asif Hashmi of the PPP and Fawad Chaudhary of Musharraf’s APML also participated. PML-Q leaders Mushahid Hussain Syed, Raja Basharat, Kamil Ali Agha, Amir Sultan Cheema, Tariq Azeem, Naseer Khan, Raza Hayat Hiraj, Asif Nakai, Ghuas Bukush Mehr, Marvi Memon, Main Imran Masood, SM Zafar, Akram Masih Gill, Chaudhry Zaheer and many others were also present.
Talking to reporters, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said some drones had been given to Pakistan, while the government had demanded the US administration give Pakistan latest drones. He said Pakistani soil was not being used for drone attacks, adding that the government was using all channels to protest against the drone strikes.
Malik said the government was trying to convince the US that drone attacks were bringing more harm than benefit to the war on terror. Earlier in the day, Babar Awan called on Shujaat and Pervaiz Elahi at their residence and discussed the current political situation in the country, law and order and terrorism. PPP sources claimed Babar Awan delivered a final message of offer from President Zardari to the PML-Q leaders.Awan also congratulated Chaudhry Shujaat upon the auspicious occasion of the marriage of his son Chaudhry Salik Hussain and delivered gifts on behalf of the president.
