The Chaudhry brothers, Shujaat Hussain and Pervez Elahi, on Sunday, refused Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari for supporting the opposition alliance Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) in the election of the Senate chairman and deputy chairman.
Bilawal, along with Yousaf Raza Gilani, Chaudhry Manzoor, Hassan Murtaza and Qamar Zaman Kaira called on PML-Q chief Shujaat Hussain and Punjab Assembly Speaker Pervaiz Elahi in Lahore to muster their support for the opposition candidates.
The opposition alliance has yet to announce candidates for the top slots of the upper house. It is, however, believed that the alliance will name PPP stalwart Yousuf Raza Gilani, who has defeated PTI candidate Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh in the Senate election.
A statement issued by the PML-Q Media Cell said that the Chaudhrys welcome Bilawal’s visit but “the party has pledged to support the government candidate in the Senate election.”
“We stand by Prime Minister Imran Khan-led government in the Senate election as a matter of principle,” said Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain.
Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi seconded him by saying that “we don’t back out of our promises and it is against our principles to break a solemn commitment.”
PML-Q leaders including Federal Minister Tariq Bashir Cheema, MNAs Moonis Elahi, Hussain Elahi and Chaudhry Salik Hussain were also present during the meeting.
