PTI, PML-Q leaders do brainstorming on Punjab CM election

LAHORE, July 20: Senior leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) put their heads together in Lahore on Wednesday in order to ensure the success of Punjab Assembly (PA) Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi in the election for the seat of Punjab chief minister due to be held day after tomorrow (Friday, July 22, 2022). In this connection, former foreign minister and PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi met with Chaudhry Pervaiz to discuss the numbers both the PTI and PML-Q have in the provincial assembly for the success of their joint candidate. Other PTI leaders, including former Punjab governor Umar Sarfaraz Cheema, Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed and Mian Aslam Iqbal were also present at the meeting. The newly-elected MPAs of the party namely Chaudhry Shabbir Gujjar, Zain Qureshi, Amir Iqbal Shah, Saifuddin Khosa and Major (r) Ghulam Sarwar were also in attendance. Chaudhry Pervaiz told the PTI leaders that thankfully both the parties had the support of required number of MPAs for the purpose. “All attempts by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) either to harass or kidnap our MPAs will be foiled,” he vowed. Speaking on the occasion, Qureshi said that the people of Punjab had thrown their weight behind PTI Chairman Imran Khan as was evident by the party’s impressive win in the provincial by-elections held just a few days ago. “Majority of MPAs stand by Imran and the candidate nominated by him for the CM’s office,” he said emphatically. On the other hand, MPAs belonging to both the PTI and PML-Q, who are staying at Gulberg’s Express Avari Hotel prior to the Punjab CM election, left for the PA to attend the session in two buses. They will return to the same hotel after the session is over. The opposition MPAs, who have been allowed to stay in the hotel until July 22, will also leave for the assembly on the election day together. -NNI