Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi on Wednesday asserted the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) was standing alongside Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar. Refuting all impressions about differences with the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Elahi told the media that internal rifts within the party were the beauty of democracy, and there were no disagreements between the PML-Q and the PTI.
“All our meetings with Prime Minister Imran Khan revolved around the agenda of strengthening the position of CM Buzdar,” he said. Referring to PML-Q MNA Tariq Bashir Cheema’s speech in the assembly, Elahi clarified that the mention of Bahawalpur province by the minister was on point, and if one province was established then this practice would continue. The speaker further dismissed all reports about his party’s contacts with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and stated that there was “no association” between the PML-Q and the PML-N. It is pertinent to mention here that a legislation bill to carve out southern Punjab province from Punjab was tabled in the National Assembly on Tuesday. Supporting the bill, PML-Q leader and Minister for Housing and Works Tariq Bashir Cheema stressed the need for creating a Bahawalpur province as well.