Pakistan Muslim League-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has expelled his cousin Chaudhary Pervaiz Elahi from the party. He announced the decision shortly before Elahi joined the PTI on Tuesday.
Elahi joined PTI with 10 former Punjab lawmakers of the PMLQ.
Imran Khan’s party will be making him PTI president. Hence, he emerges as a major political leader in the party, potentially overshadowing Asad Umar, who is the secretary general, and Shah Mahmood Qureshi who is the vice chairman.
Elahi held a long meeting with Imran Khan and other PTI leaders in Lahore. But at the press conference, he was joined only by Fawad Chaudhry and Mussarat Cheema.
Fawad lauded Elahi’s role in recent political developments and said he had rendered huge sacrifices for Imran Khan.
Fawad revealed that Elahi would be made PTI president and that the party leadership had agreed to the proposal during the meeting.
Imran Khan is the chairman of the PTI, Shah Mahmood Qureshi is Vice Chairman, and Asad Umar Secretary general. So, Elahi technically gets a senior position in the party without disturbing the hierarchy.
Elahi said he will follow Imran Khan’s direction and will not anything that may hurt the party.
Shortly before the press conference, Shujaat issued a statement saying Elahi’s basic party membership had been terminated and consequently he had lost all the party positions he held.
The statement also warned Elahi against using the name of PMLQ in the future or entering into any political agreement using its name.
Elahi has been exploring a merger with Imran Khan’s PTI.
When Shujaat learned about his plans last month, he issued a show-cause notice to Elahi.
The show cause said that Elahi being the provincial president of the party had no authority to announce a merger with any other party.
PMLQ has a distinct political identity and a vote bank, the show-cause notice said.
Elahi was asked to submit a clarification within seven days.
On Tuesday, just before Elahi was to hold a meeting with Imran Khan over the merger, Shujaat expelled him from the party.
PMLQ spokesperson Mustafa Malik confirmed to Aaj News that Elahi’s party membership had been terminated.
