Pakistan Views

A would-be opposition alliance led by Pakistan Muslim League-Q on Sunday nominated MNA-elect from Mutthahida Qaumi Movement Dr Farooq Sattar candidate for the prime minister slot whereas Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi would be joint nominee for opposition leader. The announcement was made at a joint press conference after a joint parliamentary party meeting here, which was addressed by Dr Farooq Sattar, PML President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and former Chief Minister Punjab Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi in presence of a number of leaders of the former ruling alliance. Besides, the coalition also nominated MQM female-elect MNA Khushbakhat Shujaat for the slot of deputy speaker whereas Syed Haider Abbas Rizvi would be the deputy opposition leader in the National Assembly. However, the alliance would announce the nominee for the slot of speaker. On the occasion, Dr Farooq Sattar said that the alliance would make hectic efforts to show its strength and prime minister of the alliance would be for five-year period. Responding to a question, MQM leader Sattar said the unanimous candidate for the Speaker’s election would be from the PML-Q and his name would be made public in a day or two. Farooq said that they would contest the election for the office of the prime minister seriously, adding it would be a permanent person for five-year term rather a candidate for an interim period only. He said the allied parties would play a constructive role while sitting on the opposition benches and support coming government’s every step for the country’s development. Chaudhry Shujaat said that the alliance would sit in the opposition benches if failed to secure votes for the nominated prime minister and play a positive role in the democratic process. He, however, denied any rift in the party ranks, saying that there would be no forward block of PML-Q in the National Assembly. Punjab former chief minister Parvez Ellahi said they would take every body along with them and will always consult senior parliamentarians of the allied parties. He said they would play a constructive role of the opposition after a complete homework. The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain phoned Shujaat during the news conference and assured him his party’s support.