The forward bloc of Pakistan Muslim League-Q on Thursday walked out of the party parliamentary meeting after a verbal clash between the members of two sides.
The new forward bloc of PML-Q in the National Assembly with the name 'Reformers group' led by Kashmala Tariq and Riaz Fatiana staged walkout over the joint opposition parliamentary meeting wrangling over the leadership issue.
In between the meeting, Kashmala Tariq, Riaz Fatiana, Israr Tareen, Nauman Langrial, Nasar Ullah Bajrani walked out of the meeting protesting against the attitude of Faisal Saleh Hayat, who was appointed the party parliamentary leader in the National Assembly. The forward bloc emerged the other day expressed their serious reservations over appointment of Faisal Saleh Hayat as parliamentary leader.
Kashmala who is leading the group claiming support of around 30 MNAs alleged that Faisal misbehaved with her when she challenged his credentials to chair the parliamentary party meeting. They claimed that they have support of over 30 members and do not accept the party leadership's decision of appointing Faisal as parliamentary leader, Chaudhry Pervaiz Ellahi as leader of Opposition and Riaz Pirzada as chief whip of the party.
She said Faisal misbehaved with me when she asked his capacity to chair the meeting and demanded of him to show notification of his appointment as parliamentary leader and asked me to shut up. She claimed that the group has support of over 30 MNAs and 26 MPAs from Punjab.
Kashmala alleged that the party affairs are being run by the Patriot group rather than senior members of PML. Faisal, Sheikh Waqas, Riaz Pirzada and Raza Hiyat Hiraj have hijacked the party, she said. She vowed that the group would soon nominate its own parliamentary leader after securing confidence of some other members.
On the occasion, Riaz Fatiana said that the leadership was not consulting them on party affairs and members and leaders of small provinces are being ignored. Chaudhry Wajahat Hussain, younger brother of PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain told media that some members have grievances and it was a routine matter, which would be settled within the party. He said that all grievances of the members would be addressed at a party meeting on Monday. Faisal Saleh Hayat, however, avoided talking to media remarking that "I feel insult to respond on such issue".