ECP declares Chaudhary Shujaat to remain PML-Q president

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday certified Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain to be the president of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid, giving the veteran politician a significant legal triumph (PML-Q).

In the midst of a conflict with his cousin Parvez Elahi over the party’s leadership, the ECP revealed its decision on a plea that the former prime minister had submitted.

Elahi, the previous chief minister of Punjab, was responsible for organizing Shujaat’s ouster from his position as party leader.

Shujaat was relieved of his responsibilities as party president by PML-Central Q’s Working Committee (CWC) in July of last year, claiming health reasons.

At a CWC meeting presided over by Senator Kamil Ali Agha, the decision was made to dismiss Shujaat from the party’s leadership.

After the CWC meeting, Kamil Ali Agha spoke to the media and said, “Isolating Ch Shujaat has become vital to save the party from ruin.”

The meeting also agreed to expel Federal Minister Tariq Bashir Cheema from the party, according to sources.

At the same time, the CWC also established an election body to conduct party-internal elections.

However, Shujaat approached ECP about the issue, and until the petition was resolved, it kept the former prime minister in that position.

On August 18, 2022, the electoral board will reserve its decision in the case after hearing the plea.

Over the question of collaborating with PTI and PML-N, the PML-Q split into two factions.

While Chaudhry Shujaat, Salik Hussain, and Tariq Bashir Cheema supported the PML-N, Pervez Elahi, his son Moonis, and the majority of the party’s leaders supported the PTI.