Lahore: In major development, former Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader Parvez Elahi announced joining Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf along with 10 of his party’s former MPAs, as political temperature heats up in country ahead of general elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab.

Announcement came hours after PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat, Elahi’s cousin sacked him as party’s Punjab President and revoked his basic membership.

پرویز الہٰی نے باقاعدہ طور پر پی ٹی آئی کو جوائن کر لیا ہے-@fawadchaudhry pic.twitter.com/aETTAIs5GT

— PTI (@PTIofficial) February 21, 2023

Khan and Elahi enjoy close ties as former Chief Minister vowed to stand by PTI Chief and ensure that they will remain in power in Punjab major hub of country’s politics. “After lengthy discussions, Parvez Elahi and other leaders have finally decided to join PTI,” PTI senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry said during press conference alongside Elahi here after ex-Punjab CM’s meeting with Khan.

Fawad said that entire party welcomes Elahi and his aides as they have now set on path towards “New Pakistan”. “Parvez Elahi has rendered sacrifices and stood by Imran Khan through thick and thin.”

pic.twitter.com/uIWDt3pwPp

— Ch Parvez Elahi (@ChParvezElahi) February 21, 2023

Upon Elahi’s insistence, Fawad told journalists that party has also decided to appoint former PML-Q leader as PTI’s President and senior leadership has also green-lighted decision.

“We will move forward over this step in line with our party’s constitution,” Fawad whom Elahi had criticised last month but later withdrew his statement said. For his part, Elahi said that PTI Chief has promised of appointing him as party’s President due to his sacrifices during party’s tough times.

“I have supported Imran Khan during difficult times and proved my loyalty through Chief Ministership,” Elahi who lost top office after dissolving assembly last month said.

Recalling days when he dissolved Punjab Assembly last month at desire of PTI Chief, former CM said that he would everything which in turn is beneficial for country. Ten former lawmakers Hafiz Ammar Yasir, Shujaat Nawaz, Abdullah Yousuf Warraich, Bao Rizwan, Sajid Bhatti, Ahsanul Haque, Muhammad Afzal, Basma Chaudhry and Khadija Umar Farooqui. Moosa Elahi, Chaudhry Maqsood, Khurram Munawwar and Haji Umar Habib were part of meeting.

Last month, Elahi had announced that he was considering merging the PML-Q with allies PTI. Following the announcement, Shujaat issued him a show-cause notice on January 16 stating that the provincial president could not merge the party with another one, and asked him to explain his unconstitutional action within seven days. “Elahi should explain the unconstitutional and illegal action. PML-Q, as a political party, has its own vote bank, discipline, manifesto and code. Elahi's statements of the previous day are a violation of party rules.”

Published in The Daily National Courier, February, 22 2023

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