PTI, PML-Q to go strong with a stronger stomach

• Moonis may come in as Deputy Opposition Leader for a stronger PTI-PML-Q opposition

The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI) is divided over giving the slot of Deputy Opposition Leader to Moonis Elahi of the Pakistan Muslim League – Quaid (PML-Q), party sources told Pakistan Today.

An internal meeting of the PTI Punjab office bearers discussed the issue in length a few days ago, while a strong disagreement surfaced over handing over the slot of the Deputy Opposition Leader to Moonis. Although the slot is unconstitutional, still it is going to yield a lot of influence considering the attention he is going to grab in a house dominated ‘overwhelmingly’ by the PML-N MPAs.

Even on Monday’s elections of the speaker and the deputy speaker, cooperation between PML-Q and PTI was obvious, showing the two are still on the same page.

PTI’s nominee Raja Rashid Hafeez got 35 votes showing an obvious support from the nine Q-leaguers in the house. Similarly, Waqas Hassan Moakal, vying for the slot of deputy speaker grabbed 37 votes clearly showing the votes casted by the PTI MPAs. The move had been proposed to solidify the ties between the two parties and making a strong opposition in a house dominated by the Noon League.

Some of the PTI Punjab stalwarts on anonymity expressed their desire to give in to the Q league’s demand of Deputy Opposition Leader for a stronger opposition especially when the two parties have voted for each other in the PA speaker elections.

“There is no harm if we give the slot of Deputy Opposition Leader to Moonis Elahi, which will only make the opposition united and stronger against a dominating majority,” a senior Punjab PTI office bearer told Pakistan Today.

However, the PTI nominated opposition leader MPA Mian Mehmood ur Rasheed denied any opinion in the party to give the slot to Moonis Elahi. “The PTI has already decided and announced the name of Muhammad Sabtain Khan for the slot of deputy opposition leader and there is no question of giving it to anyone else. The decision came after proper deliberations in the party,” he added.

To a question on stronger opposition, he said, “If the PML-Q has given us nine votes, we have casted 26 votes in their favour. Besides the slot has no constitutional status and is announced only per tradition.”