Chaudhry Wajahat Hussain, brother of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain announced forming a new party on Saturday following months-long tensions simmering between the political family that rules Gujrat.
According to Express News, addressing a press conference in Gujrat, Wajahat said that he would fulfill his promise to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and will not abandon the former prime minister, unlike his brother.
Taking a dig at Shujaat’s political legacy, he said Salik Hussain, who was recently sworn in as a federal minister and is the son of Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, “never had anything to do with Gujrat’s politics”.
“Opponents who have not been able to defeat us in our constituencies and districts are tearing our house apart,” he said while referring to the political maneuverings happening since the vote of no confidence against former premier Imran Khan.
On this occasion, Wajahat Hussain’s eldest son, MNA Chaudhry Hussain Elahi said that he would “fight the opponents with courage. Now there is no way back, the PML-N government is registering cases against Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and Moonis Elahi.”
A money laundering case was registered against Moonis Elahi last week.
The rift
Speculations had been rife that a rift had emerged between the Chaudhry brothers in light of the no-confidence motion against former prime minister Imran Khan.
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While Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, along with his son Moonis Elahi had chosen to side with Imran Khan, while party supremo Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain had sided with the Pakistan Mulsim Leauge-Nawaz.
The two shrewd PML-Q leaders have over the years earned prominence for their foresightedness in national politics, which eventually led to the party’s elevation in the political sphere. However, it is also hard to ignore the behind-the-scenes maneuverings and the role played by Chaudhry Wajahat Hussain. The trio has successfully forwarded the political legacy of Chaudhry Zahoor Ali.
The family’s new generation, which came of age politically after inheriting the strong political legacy from the Chaudhry brothers, has apparently abandoned the traditions.
The ‘ginger group’ is now on the cusp of being transformed into an independent party.
Today, the family is at a crossroads whereby it is marred by internal differences, as two major camps exist within the party — those who support the PML-N and the other that backs the PTI.
Shujaat sides with the PML-N given that his son, Chaudhry Salik Hussain, desired to become a federal minister in the incumbent coalition set-up. Meanwhile, Shujaat’s younger brother Wajahat and his son, Chaudhry Hussain Elahi, tread the opposite route, desiring to align with the PTI.
Shujaat’s youngest brother, Chaudhry Shafaat Hussain, who is disgruntled with the family’s policies, remains silent and has withdrawn from the family.