Rana Sanaullah Says Moonis Elahi Behind PML-Q's Bid For Punjab CMship

Rana Sanaullah Says Moonis Elahi Behind PML-Q's Bid For Punjab CMship
Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) leader Rana Sanaullah has claimed that the Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q)'s decision to align with the incumbent government was the work of the younger Moonis Elahi, insinuating that the more august Chauhdry clan would never have made such a calculation.

Sanaullah claimed that at the last meeting between the two parties,  the PML-N "asked Moonis Elahi to let go of the demand of chief ministership, but he said the PML-Q will remain ‘silent unless it is given the CMship’ [of Punjab].”

The lawmaker further pointed out that the opposition had submitted the no-confidence motion against Usman Buzdar at the request of the PML-Q.

Pakistan People's Party Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari is reportedly reaching out to Pervaiz Elahi to regain the party's support for the opposition.  Notably, Zardari has also named Pervaiz Elahi as his choice for the next chief minister of Punjab.

In the Punjab Assembly, the PML-N- holds 165 votes, while the PML-Q only holds five.  Sanaullah issued a clear notice that the PML-N would not forget the party's allegiance when voting for the next chief minister of the province.

Earlier, the elder Chaudhry Shujaat maintained that there is no rift within the party and that the Chaudhry family is “on the same page”.

“I don’t like to issue clarifications but I will still make it clear that I am considered as the patriarch” Shujaat said, adding that all decisions within the party had been made with his prior consultation and approval.