After 14-year hiatus, Shahbaz meets Chaudhry brothers at residence in bid to mount pressure on govt

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Web Desk

February 13, 2022

Punjab Assembly Speaker and Acting Punjab Governor Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi (left), Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly and PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif (centre), and former prime minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain at the Chaudhry brothers residence in Lahore, on February 13, 2022. — Twitter
Punjab Assembly Speaker and Acting Punjab Governor Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi (left), Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly and PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif (centre), and former prime minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain at the Chaudhry brothers residence in Lahore, on February 13, 2022. — Twitter

  • Shahbaz Sharif seeks PML-Q’s support to oust government.
  • He says Opposition on one page to send government home.
  • Chaudhry brothers to respond after consultations.

LAHORE: Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly and PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif met PML-Q's Chaudhry brothers — allies of the PTI-led government — at their residence after 14 years as the Opposition seeks to mount pressure on the government.

The development comes after Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari met the Chaudhry brothers — Chaudhry Shujat Hussain and Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi — at their residence, as the Opposition seeks to oust the incumbent government.

Read more: Asif Ali Zardari backs no-confidence motion against PM Imran Khan

During today's meeting, PML-N leaders Khawaja Saad Rafique, Ayaz Sadiq, Attaullah Tarar, Shabbir Usmani were in attendance, while Chaudhry Salik Hussain and Chaudhry Shafay Hussain represented the PML-Q.

In a statement on the micro-blogging platform Twitter, PML-N said both sides discussed the current political situation in the country in detail and also shed light on other issues of mutual interest.

Sources said the meeting lasted an hour and a half, where the Opposition leader sought PML-Q, who is a crucial ally of the government in Punjab and Centre, to support them in their quest of overthrowing Prime Minister Imran Khan's regime.

Read more: PTI lawmakers 'ready to jump ship' after Imran Khan's failures

"Back us in our bid to bring a no-confidence motion against [PM Imran Khan]. The Opposition has a unanimous stance that the government should go home," sources quoted Shabaz as saying.

In response, according to sources, the Chaudhry brothers told Shahbaz that they would "consult their party leaders on the current political situation" as the coming days "are important".

Read more: Five PTI ministers in contact with PML-N, claims Ahsan Iqbal

"We will adopt a strategy after consultations," the brothers said.

Meanwhile, during the meeting, Shahbaz — on behalf of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif — also inquired about Chaudhry Shujat Hussain's health and prayed for his recovery.