fforts are under way to bridge the political differences in the Chaudhry family of Gujrat.

If the peacemakers succeed, the family will be on the same page once again. This means that either Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain will withdraw his support for the ruling coalition or Parvez Elahi will part ways with the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI). If the two cannot reconcile, the gulf will widen further and the younger generation of the Chaudhrys may become political rivals in Gujrat, Mandi Bahauddin and Chakwal.

Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, son of Chaudhry Zahoor Elahi, entered mainstream politics in 1985 and became a federal minister in Muhammad Khan Junejo’s cabinet. As the elder politician in the family he supported his cousin Parvez Elahi, son of Chaudhry Manzoor Elahi, who is also his brother-in-law. Chaudhry Wajahat Hussain, a former member of National and Punjab Assemblies, and Chaudhry Shafaat Hussain, a former nazim of Gujrat are also family members. The Shujaat-Parvez duo has enjoyed importance in national politics since 1985. The two leaders have served in the highest positions. Shujaat served as prime minister of Pakistan for a transitional period and was federal minister in three cabinets. Elahi has served as deputy prime minister, Punjab chief minister and the Punjab Assembly speaker.

The duo left the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz after Nawaz Sharif was exiled. They joined the the Musharraf-backed Pakistan Muslim League, now called PML-Quaid, in 2001. After the 2002 elections, Mian Muhammad Azhar, (father of former finance minister Hammad Azhar of the PTI) and the then PML chief resigned from chairmanship of the league. Shujaat Hussain was elected the new president and Parvez Elahi was elected its Punjab president.

In 2008, Parvez Elahi launched the political career of his son Moonis Elahi, fielding him in two provincial assembly constituencies. Moonis won the Mandi Bahauddin seat and became an MPA. He also started calling the shots in the PML-Q alongside his maternal uncle Shujaat Hussain and his father Parvez Elahi. However, Shujaat continued to have the last word.

The turning point in the political life of the Chaudhrys came before the no-confidence motion against Khan. Shujaat sided with Asif Ali Zardari. Later, PML-N leaders also visited Shujaat Hussain and Parvez Elahi and got an assurance of their support. What led to the split was Moonis’s commitment to the then PM, Khan, that his party would not desert him.

Parvez Elahi never defied Shujaat Hussain despite difference of opinion on various matters. In 2018, Shujaat Hussain launched his elder son, Chaudhry Salik Hussain, who won a National Assembly seat from Chakwal. The seat had earlier been vacated by his uncle Parvez Elahi, who opted to retain his provincial assembly’s seat. Meanwhile, Chaudhry Wajahat’s son, Hussain Elahi and Moonis Elahi were already in National Assembly. When former prime minister Imran Khan was struggling to form governments in Centre and the Punjab, Shujaat and Elahi decided to ally with the PTI. The PTI then formed federal and the Punjab governments. Initially, the PML-Q got speakership of Punjab Assembly. Later, Tariq Bashir Cheema and Moonis Elahi were included in the federal cabinet.

The turning point in the political life of the Chaudhrys came before the no-confidence motion against Khan. Shujaat Hussain sided with Asif Ali Zardari. Later, PML-N leaders also visited Shujaat Hussain and Parvez Elahi and got assurance of their support. What led to the split was Moonis’s commitment to the then PM, Khan, that his party would not desert him. According to family sources, “Elahi did not want to defy Shujaat Hussain but he could not go against his son.”

On the other hand, two PML-Q MNAs Salik and Cheema supported Shahbaz Sharif. Now both are the federal ministers, while Elahi is serving the interests of the PTI in Punjab Assembly.

Recently, Hussain Elahi, son of Wajahat Hussain, also announced support for the PTI. “In fact, Elahi, Moonis, Wajahat and Hussain are looking after their native constituencies in Gujrat and Mandi Bahauddin. Shujaat Hussain does not meet people because of his ailment. Salik and his brother Shafay lack familiarity with the constituencies in Gujrat,” says a close aide of the Chaudhrys.

“Shujaat Hussain had wanted to bury the hatchet with the Sharifs. He believes that they can play a long political innings in alliance with the PML-N. However, Elahi and the other brothers think differently. They are of the opinion that the people will not vote for them if they desert the PTI. They hope to add to their original vote bank in the two cities and want to field PML-Q candidates in various parts of Pakistan with the PTI support.”

“To us both appear right. Friends of the family are trying hard to bring them on one page. If they manage a political reconciliation either the PTI will lose the PML-Q support, chances of which are slim or Shujaat Hussain will withdraw his support from the PML-N and the coalition,” family sources say.

The writer is a senior journalist, teacher of   journalism, and   analyst. He tweets at @BukhariMubasher