LAHORE – Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) chief Chaudhry ShujaatHussain will be contesting the by-poll in NA-65 (Chakwal-II) constituencythat would be vacated by his cousin, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi.
According to a statement issued by the party, the NA-65 seat was firstoffered to Sardar Mumtaz Tamman, who was of the view that it was importantfor Shujaat to be a part of the parliament.
Elahi, who won two National Assembly seats on PML-Q’s ticket, has decidedto retain NA-69 (Gujrat-II) while a by-poll will now be held on NA-65 asone individual can only hold a single seat according to the rules. The movewill reduce PML-Q’s seat tally in the lower house of the parliament tothree, unless Shujaat wins the seat back for the party.
Shujaat Hussain, who also remained Pakistan’s prime minister from June 30,2004 to August 26, 2004, did not compete in parliamentary elections 2018.However now he has decided to enter the political ring and strive forsecuring National Assembly seat by winning the by-election in NA-65.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Q has four National Assembly seats and sevenPunjab Assembly seats. Recently, the PML-Q leaders met PakistanTehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan in Bani Gala and announced theirsupport to his party in the Central and Punjab governments.
It is being anticipated that PTI may back Chaudhry Pervez Elahi for theSpeakership in the Punjab Assembly.