LAHORE: The PML-Q, after mounting tensions between the two coalition partners finally gave way, announced on Sunday that it was breaking ties with the ruling party and launched its own campaign for the upcoming general elections.
PML-Q, a crucial ally of the PTI in the Centre and Punjab, made the announcement after a meeting of the parliamentary party that took place under the chair of Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, Punjab president, who is also the speaker of the provincial assembly.
The leaders of the PML-Q voiced their displeasure with the enormous rise in fuel costs and electricity tariffs, as well as the devaluation of the local currency.
They are also unhappy with the PTI administration for failing to control crime and the country’s high unemployment rate.
Parliamentarians from the party stated that the people were having a tough time making ends meet due to the government’s “negligence.”
They went on to say that under this grim circumstance, public officials will confront their constituents in the next general elections.
Parliamentarians said that they had worked with the ruling PTI and offered it all of their support. However, it has now become increasingly difficult to continue the collation with PTI.
Instead of addressing basic public concerns, the PML-Q leaders said that the government was creating “non-issues” and heaping salt on people’s wounds.
They emphasized that if the government did not address core public concerns such as inflation and unemployment, the country’s status would deteriorate.
The PML-Q had previously warned to go against the PTI for “mistreatment of its employees” in Punjab and “not being included in the decision-making process” a day earlier.
Federal ministers Tariq Bashir Cheema and Moonis Elahi, Senator Kamil Ali Agha, MNAs Salik Hussain, Hussain Elahi, Mrs Farrukh Khan, provincial ministers Hafiz Ammar Yasir, Bao Rizwan, Punjab MPAs Sajid Ahmad Khan Bhatti, Abdullah Yousaf Warriach, Dr Muhammad Afzal, Ehsan ul Haq Chaudhry, Khadija Umar, Shujaar Nawaz Ajlana, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa MPA Mufti Ubaidur Rehman and party leader Shafay Hussain attended the meeting.
