Pakistan Views

Opposition Leader in the National Assembly, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has said people knew that both Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz were trying to reinstate the deposed judges for their own sake. He was addressing a press conference here at the PML House on Friday after chairing an organisational meeting of Multan Division.Elahi said during the meeting, he was informed by the party office bearers and workers that fake cases were being registered against PML workers in order to harass them. He added that copies of FIRs were also presented to him during the meeting according to which over 100 cases had been registered against the party workers in each district of the province.Condemning the registration of fake cases, Elahi said that those who lived in Saroor Palace and have “fun” did not learn any lesson and have re-started victimisation of opponents. He said that his party in its first cabinet meeting had decided to give free education up to matric but the sitting government in its first cabinet meeting discussed how to restart political victimisation of opponents.Besides, he added they start their day with a breakfast of transfers and postings of at least 10 to 12 senior officials. Elahi said that people were deprived of flour, electricity and gas whereas the ruling alliance had diverted the attention of the people from actual issues. The government has no agenda to give relief to the masses as it has no vision and commitment to resolve the issues of the general public, he added.Elahi said he was surprised that Shahbaz Sharif despite being not elected to any house is ordering transfers and postings and conducting interviews of the officials. He added that they (Sharifs) either shelve their illegal attitude or should not talk about constitution and law.He said that despite the arrival of new wheat crop in the market, the flour crisis was not yet over and for the first time in the history of the country, the houses of wheat growers were raided and they were being harassed. Elahi said that the government can tear the pages having pictures of PML leaders from books but they should provide free books to the students.He added there were reports that the government was trying to roll back those revolutionary steps in education sector, which were introduced by the PML government. He said that the PML government had eliminated corruption, changed traffic culture, provided free medicines but the ruling alliance had been harassing the administration.Elahi said that the PML had started the organisational work to know the real causes of their defeat in the general elections besides organising the party at grass roots level. The PML would emerge as the strongest party in the days to come and play its political role, he added.Elahi appealed to the media to play its role in forcing the ruling alliance not to divert people’s attention from real issues. Opposition leader in Punjab Assembly, Chaudhry Zaheeruddin Khan, SVP Muhammad Basharat Raja, Arshad Lodhi and others were also present.

The leader of the opposition in National Assembly Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has congratulated the new speaker of the house Dr. Fehmida Mirza Wednesday after her election as the presiding officer of the lower house of the parliament.
Speaking as the leader of the opposition Pervaiz Elahi assured his full cooperation to the speaker and said the opposition would back all good deeds of the treasury and would oppose government acts and policies, which the opposition would find against the interests of the people. He assured the speaker that the opposition benches would not create unpleasant situations in the house and would protest in a polite way.

PML-Q on Tuesday named former Chief Minister of Punjab Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi its Parliamentary Leader in the National Assembly. The decision in this regard was taken in a meeting of the parliamentary party of the PML-Q presided over by the party President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, and attended by the majority of the newly elected MNAs from across the four provinces.
Newly elected MNA from Sindh Ghaus Bakhsh Mahar proposed the name of Elahi to lead the party in the Parliament while Engineer Amir Muqam from NWFP endorsed it. All the party members unanimously expressed confidence in the leadership of Elahi and named him for the post.
Addressing on the occasion, Elahi said he would take along all the party members in all matters and fulfilling all the Constitutional responsibilities, the party would prove a strong opposition in the National Assembly.

Pakistan Muslim League Central Executive Committee (CEC) has nominated Pervaiz Elahi and Hamid Nasir Chattha as party parliamentary leaders in Centre and Punjab respectively. The party CEC held its meeting here on Saturday with Shujaat Hussain in the chair and discussed party’s performance and future strategy.
Later, addressing a press conference, Shujaat said that his party had decided to nominate Pervaiz Elahi as parliamentary leader in National Assembly and Hamid Nasir Chattha would be parliamentary leader in Punjab Assembly. In reply to a question, he said that being the largest party among the opposition, leader of opposition is the right of PML-Q both in Centre and Punjab. He said that besides forming a coalition government in Balochistan, PML-Q would sit on the opposition benches in Centre and other three provinces where it would play the role of constructive and vibrant opposition. When asked about the restoration of sacked judges, he said that his party would not play with the sentiments of the people by making such claims. Shujaat said that the party is strong enough to go ahead with full political activities, and would not be affected by some defections. When his attention was drawn towards the on-going dialogue between PPP and MQM to form a coalition government in Sindh, he said that PML-Q would not have any objection. On the occasion, Secretary General Pakistan Muslim League Senator Mushahid Hussain said that the party would form a Parliamentary Committee to prepare for legislation in the parliament, and added that a ‘Research and Analysis Committee’ would also be formed to review the party’s performance, from time to time in future.
He said that by sitting on the opposition benches, the PML would play constructive role as far as the national issues would be concerned ie foreign policy, provision of provincial rights and rights of minorities as well as economic policies.
He said that the morale of party workers and leadership was very high due to the fact that it got more votes than PPP and PML-N in the February 18 elections. He said that according to the Election Commission statement, PML-Q and its coalition got 11.3 million votes, PPP 10.5 million and PML-N got 6.6 million votes.

Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q) President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain along with former chief minister Punjab Chaudhry Pervez Elahi called on President Pervez Musharraf at presidential camp office, Rawalpindi, here on late Tuesday night,

During the meeting, the PML-Q leaders discussed the current political situation arisen out from the February 18 polls with the president.

Central leader of PML-Q, Choudhry Pervaiz Elahi has said that his party will accept polling results gracefully. In a telephonic interview with Geo News, former Punjab Chief Minister said that poll results point to mass judgment and his party will level no accusations of poll rigging. He said that PML-Q had been saying from the outset that election would not be rigged. Elahi said he was willing to assume the role of opposition party. “President Musharraf is still our President and we have chosen him for a five year term” he added.
Elahi said he was positive that PML-Q would get votes considering its five years performance, however poll results would be accepted gracefully.

Former chief minister Punjab and Pakistan Muslim League (PML) leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has said that there is little difference between Asif Ali Zardari and Mian Nawaz Sharif. He was addressing a traders convention held at the Pakistan Muslim League House here on Wednesday.
Trade leaders, PML-Q office bearers, the party nominees for the elections and other party leaders including Chaudhry Zahir, Sheikh Umer Hayat, Qamar Butt and Amin Butt attended the meeting. Pervaiz Elahi claimed that hypocrisy and deception is the hallmark of the PPP and PML-N leadership. “Both have several common features, the most common being that they never act upon what they claim or say,” he observed.
He asserted that Zardari had bank accounts with billions of dollars in Switzerland and Spain, while Nawaz Sharif’s family is looking to get some space in Surrey Palace where he can run and hide after a being defeated in the elections. “Where was the Sharif family when the citizens of Pakistan were facing the trauma of massive death and destruction during the earthquake of 2005 and other tragedies”, he questioned.

Pakistan Muslim League (PML) central leader and former Punjab Chief Minister, Chaudhry Pervaiz Ellahi has said that talks with Nawaz Sharif could only be held in case of his triple repentance on supporting Asif Zardari and pledge not running away from the country.
Following the postponement of election meeting at district Laiya due to bad weather, Chaudhry Pervaiz ellahi talking to media at his residence said that Nawaz Sharif has no agenda of his own and he was contesting election for strengthening the People’s Party only, while the PML has its own manifesto and stance, which the nation also acknowledges and would vote for PML in the upcoming elections on the basis of its five-year performance.
Referring to Mian Nawaz Sharif’s taking oaths today from their candidates pledging restoration of the judiciary and not agreeing to President Pervez Musharraf policies, Chaudhry Pervaiz Ellahi said that this act of Nawaz Sharif was unconstitutional and tantamount to contempt of court, of which, the Election Commission should take notice of it. He said that anti-People’s Party vote would be cast in favour of PML-Q, as voting for the N-League would mean strengthening People’s Party. Chaudhry Pervaiz Ellahi said that the PML would get 110 National Assembly seats from Punjab and would form government in the centre as well as in the provinces with the support of its allies.

Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q) leader and former Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi Thursday said Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Chief Altaf Hussain is a leader of higher caliber than Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.

He said this while talking to various delegations at his residence on the occasion of induction of Pirzada Ashraf Zia, a PML-N ticket holder from Faisalabad NA-78 into Pakistan Muslim League.

Pervaiz Elahi said no formation of government is possible in Sindh without forging an alliance with MQM, therefore, the alliance is vital to form government.

Ex-Punjab chief minister said Nawaz Sharif has no sense for the government, as he could not serve the country despite twice attaining majority and sent the country bankrupt.

‘Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif both are ineligible for the polls; hence, casting votes for N-League is tantamount to wasting them because they (Sharifs) cannot reach the assemblies,’ Elahi maintained.

‘Our family is in national politics since 1950; but, Nawaz Sharif was brought into political mainstream by Ziaul Haq. Moreover, they struck a deal to make their way back home and also, there was a deal to afford them a safe passage out of Pakistan,’ Pervaiz Elahi observed.

Commenting on election boycott by Jamaat Islami and Tehreek-e-Insaaf, ex-Punjab chief minister averred that it would benefit his party, as the religious votes used to go to Jamaat Islami would now be cast in his party’s favour.

Responding a question, he said Imran Khan is a suitable person for the social work.

PML-Q leader said N-League is a small party, which has been affiliated with PPP; hence, any coalition with it is out of context.