Parvez Elahi joins PTI, likely to become party president

Former Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader Parvez Elahi on Tuesday joined Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) minutes after Chaudhry Shujaat terminated the party membership of the ex-Punjab chief minister and removed him from his post as provincial president as well.

The announcement — which came minutes after Elahi met PTI Chairman Imran Khan —  further deepens the political temperature in the country of the general elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The former Punjab chief executive has time and again proved his loyalty to Khan as he vowed to stand by the disposed prime minister, who was removed from power in April last year when the ruling Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) initiated a no-confidence drive against the PTI chief.

"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.

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. 

Elahi sacked

In a statement earlier about sacking Elahi, Shujaat said that the former Punjab chief minister "is banned from using PML-Q’s name in the future".

The party’s president had earlier issued a show-cause notice to Elahi on January 16, suspending his membership for talking about the possibility of his party's possible merger with the PTI.

The notice mentioned that Shujaat called an urgent meeting of the senior leaders, where it was noted that the provincial president — Elahi — did not have the authority to merge the party with PTI.

He was also sent a notice for summoning the party’s non-constitutional meeting in Lahore on January 26. Positions of people appointed in the party by the former chief minister have also been withdrawn.

“Chaudhry Parvez Elahi and his aides/companions/followers could leave Q league to join PTI,” a senior leader of the party, Chaudhry Shafay Hussain, said.

He added that members elected on PML-Q’s seats could resign and leave the party. “Parvez Elahi has no right to merge PML-Q with PTI.”