–‘Leaked’ video shows PA Speaker Pervaiz Elahi and MNA Cheema asking Jahangir Tareen to ‘control’ Punjab Governor Muhammad Sarwar
–Elahi denies friction between allies, says was just conveying PML-Q’s grievance to Tareen regarding Sarwar’s ‘meddling’ in constituencies
LAHORE: The Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) has expressed its annoyance to its ally, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) over the ‘meddling’ of Punjab Governor Muhammad Sarwar in the affairs of the constituencies won by the party.
A ‘leaked’ video of a meeting recently held between senior PML-Q leaders Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and Federal Minister for Housing Chaudhry Tariq Bashir Cheema with PTI senior leader Jahangir Khan Tareen shows Cheema asking Tareen to “control Sarwar”.
“Sir, control Sarwar! He will not let your chief minister continue,” Cheema can be heard saying to Tareen. Elahi can be heard repeating the same: “Control this Sarwar.”
The video has raised questions over how much authority CM Buzdar wields in the province.
VIDEO:
DAMAGE CONTROL:
Reacting to a question over the video, Punjab Information Minister Fayyazul Hassan Chohan said the footage and Cheema’s words were being taken “out of context”.
“The centre of power according to the law and constitution is Chief Minister Usman Buzdar and the CM’s Secretariat. All ministers stand with the chief minister and are working under his leadership,” he said. “There are apprehensions and reservations which were being conveyed to the leadership, which is what Tariq Cheema was doing during the meeting,” Chohan said, adding that needless hype should not be created around the statement.
He said that Elahi and other allies of the PTI were working with his party as well as CM Buzdar.
“There are differences in politics which are minor issues. Cheema was speaking on this [differences] which is not a big deal. This doesn’t mean that the chief minister is weak,” he said.
PM Imran Khan also took notice of the incident, media reports said, adding that he is expected to call a meeting of his party’s provincial leaders, lawmakers along with PML-Q leadership to end the differences between the coalition partners.
Just hours after the leaked video gave rise to speculations, Governor Sarwar and PML-Q chief Elahi talked to each other over the phone and vowed to strengthen cooperation as coalition partners.
According to media reports, the Punjab governor and Punjab Assembly speaker agreed to enhance cooperation between the two parties and strengthen the PTI government in Punjab and Centre.
ELAHI REASSURES PML-Q’S SUPPORT TO CM BUZDAR:
Speaking to reporters over the matter before his telephonic conversation with Sarwar, PML-Q’s Elahi said Cheema was merely raising a reservation in an internal meeting between coalition partners.
“If we do not discuss issues in our own homes, then where will we do it? If our member does not speak to us, then how will his reservations be addressed?” Elahi said.
Elahi said Cheema had a longstanding concern regarding interference in the matters related to his constituency allegedly by Sarwar. “This is what he raised with Tareen,” the PA speaker said.
“The objective of such meetings is often to raise objections and resolve issues. PTI is our coalition partners. Reservations are raised and issues are resolved on a routine basis,” he said, adding: “You cannot stop anyone from interfering. But reservations can only be addressed if they are raised. This is common in every party and coalition.”
Speaking about the upcoming elections for vacant Senate seats, he revealed that the PML-Q will support the PTI in the upper house elections scheduled for Nov 15, suggesting that it was customary that grievances are sorted out prior to the elections “or else the anger is expressed at the secret ballot”.
“Tareen was there to demand our vote (for Senate polls),” Elahi clarified.
“About the Senate elections, the entire PTI leadership is involved, and our party is fully supporting Imran Khan’s party. We have supported them in the past and are supporting them in these elections as well,” he said.
The PML-Q leader said he has good relations with Punjab Governor Sarwar, and rejected rumours of there being friction between members of the two allied parties.
“We have a commitment with Imran Khan. We are moving forward with chief Minister Buzdar and supporting him and his party in every way,” he added.
