Pervaiz Elahi keeps his cards close to his chest

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) is working silently to bring changes in the National Assembly, Punjab Assembly and Balochistan Assembly, it has been learnt.

JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman along with the entire opposition is also on board but the PML-Q never admits it openly because it may trigger Prime Minister Imran Khan to dissolve the assembly, hurting the Q-League more than any other party.

It has been learnt that Fazl is ready to accept the assembly if the prime minister leaves. Speaker Balochistan Assembly Qudoos Bizenjo met Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi twice last week and sources claim that the Q-League is trying to bring a change in the Balochistan Assembly through Maulana Fazlur Rehman with the support of Balochistan Awami Party members in the provincial and national assemblies.

Sources said as many as seven angry members of Balochistan Assembly were with Qudoos Bazinjo, while four members were from the Awami National Party and three from Israrullah Zehri Group and a change could be brought in the 65-member Balochistan Assembly by a simple majority with the help of 36 members.

Sources said the Q-League wants the chief minister’s slot in the Punjab Assembly and Fazl has already talked to the PML-N and got its green light provided it was given the PM’s slot. Opposing this move, Maryam Nawaz has refused to accept the PM’s slot in the same assembly and wants fresh elections leading to her party’s victory. However, the N-League seems to be following Shahbaz Sharif more than Maryam Nawaz.

Meanwhile, Pakistan People’s Party could get reasonable ministries in the National and Punjab assemblies and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is also ready in this regard. It is learnt that Bilawal may not take any ministry to tell the voters that the PPP would support the change without any interest and greed for ministries.

There are 368 members in the Punjab Assembly, while the PTI has made a coalition government by a simple majority of 195, with 10 members of Q-League and four independents, while the opposition has 173 members.

It is said that Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi could become chief minister by a simple majority if he wins the support of MPA Jugnoo Mohsin from Okara and Qasim Abbas from Multan. It has also been learnt that 24 angry members of the PTI could be absent on the voting day.

Sources said the Q-League was extremely frustrated with the PTI government for not fulfilling promises and refusing allocation of funds, while funds have been issued for Mianwali, Dera Ghazi Khan and Jhelum.