Parvez Elahi joins PTI with 10 former MPAs

ISLAMABAD: As the political temperature heats up in the country ahead of general elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, former Pakistan Muslim LeagueQuaid (PML-Q) leader Parvez Elahi in a significant development Tuesday joined the Imran Khan-led PTI along with 10 of his party’s former MPAs.

The announcement came hours after PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat — Elahi’s cousin — sacked him as the party’s Punjab president and revoked his basic membership. Khan and Elahi enjoy close ties as the former chief minister vowed to stand by the PTI chief and ensure that they will remain in power in Punjab — the major hub of the country’s politics.

“After lengthy discussions, Parvez Elahi and other leaders have finally decided to join PTI today,” PTI Senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry said during a press conference alongside Elahi in Lahore after the ex-Punjab CM’s meeting with Khan.

Fawad said that the entire party welcomes Elahi and his aides as they have now set on the path towards a “new Pakistan”. “Parvez Elahi has rendered sacrifices and stood by Imran Khan through thick and thin.”

Upon Elahi’s insistence, Fawad told journalists that the party has also decided to appoint the former PML-Q leader as PTI’s president and the senior leadership has also green-lighted the decision.

“We will move forward over this step in line with our party’s constitution,” Fawad — whom Elahi had criticised last month but later withdrew his statement — said.

For his part, Elahi said that the PTI chief has promised of appointing him as the party’s president due to his sacrifices during the party’s tough times.

“I have supported Imran Khan during difficult times and proved my loyalty through chief ministership,” Elahi — who lost the top office after dissolving the assembly last month — said.

Recalling the days when he dissolved the Punjab Assembly last month at the desire of the PTI chief, the former CM said that he would everything which in turn is beneficial for the country.