The Unification Block (forward block) of Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q) on Friday showed its majority in the party, when it presented 47 MPAs before the media at Punjab Assembly. In what appeared to be a blow to Chaudhrys-led PML-Q, the leader of Unification Block Ata Muhammad Manika claimed to have support of more than 50 MPAs of the party in Punjab Assembly.
Manika said that the block would now form its own parliamentary group in the house. Addressing a press conference at Punjab Assembly, Manika asserted that the group was actual PML-Q in Punjab Assembly as it enjoyed majority of the party MPAs support in the house.
Manika along with 44 MPAs had a meeting with Chief Minister Punjab Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif at his Raiwind Farm House recently. However, 47 MPAs were present in Fridays press conference, while Manika claimed that the group had the support of 51 provincial legislators. Manika said he would file a plea with Speaker Punjab Assembly to get the block declared as parliamentary party of Q-league. He reiterated his groups support for Shahbaz-led Punjab government
The group after proving the support of majority of ML-Q members in the Punjab assembly, refused to accept Chaudhry Zahir-u-Din as opposition leader. The group through a written request to Punjab Assembly Speaker, Rana Muhammad Iqbal, demanded that they should be allowed to elect their parliamentary leader.
Meanwhile, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi while criticising the development said that parliamentary party leader under the law would only be the man, who was appointed by the Party Provincial Chief.
Addressing a press conference about the news development, he said those involved in the practice has done nothing for the country. He warned that this practice would be detrimental to the interests of PML-N in the future. Pervaiz Elahi said that they were the single party and any change in the Constitution could be made by General Council of the Party.
He said they had already given formula to shun horse trading in the province, but was not accepted and the present situation developed. He said Atta Manaka was a "lota" and where it was written in Charter of Democracy that mandate of every party would be respected. He said the process of, what he said, destabilisation initiated by PML-N would destabilise the political process. Raja Basharat and Chaudhry Zaheer-u-Din were also present during the press conference.