One week for govt to meet PML-Q demands

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) has given the government one week to meet its demands after which it will chalk out its course of action. The deadline was given in a meeting of government team, comprising Jehangir Tareen and Defence Minister Pervez Khattak, with the PML-Q representatives on Wednesday.

Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, chief secretary and IGP Punjab also attended the meeting. The PML-Q was represented by Minister for Housing and Works Tariq Bashir Cheema, Chaudhry Moonis Elahi, Salik Hussain and Hussain Elahi.

Inside story reveals that an agreement signed between the two parties after 2018 general election came under discussion. Sources said Moonis Elahi suggested that the written agreement should also be shown to the chief secretary and IG Punjab.

Under the agreement, the posting and transfers of officials in the PML-Q constituencies had to be made in consultation with the PML-Q but this clause was not being implemented. The PML-Q also demanded transfer of powers to its ministers and a direction to the bureaucracy to follow and implement their directives.

The PML-Q’s third demand was provision of development funds to its legislators. The Q-leaders made it clear to the government team that they were giving them one week for implementing the agreement failing which they would take their future line of action.

The Q-team also communicated a message of PML-N President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and the Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervez Elahi to the government that Moonis Elahi was not interested in becoming a minister or chief minister.