ISLAMABAD, Nov 7: The Pakistan Muslim League-Q averted a split on Friday after a meeting between Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and a group of legislators led by Chaudhry Hamid Nasir Chattha.

Chaudhry Parvaiz Elahi, said to be aspiring for the post of the party’s president, did not attend the meeting. Chaudhry Shujaat was assisted at the meeting by Ghaus Bakhsh Mehar, Kamil Ali Agha and Wajahat Hussain while Mr Chattha was accompanied by Gohar Ayub Khan, Jan Mohammad Jamali, Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri, Humayun Akhtar Khan, Ijazul Haq, Amir Muqam, Begum Yaqoot Jamilur Rehman, Ghaffar Qureshi, Nisar Memon, Akram Zaki and Humayun Saifullah Khan.

According to insiders, Chaudhry Shujaat said at the meeting that he and Chaudhry Parvaiz Elahi had decided not to contest for the post of party’s president.

A statement read out by Mian Khurshid Kasuri said: “Senior PML-Q leaders met today and reposed confidence in the leadership of Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain.

“Taking cognizance of speculations in a section of the media about differences in the party, the meeting decided to form a committee to maintain unity and take steps to enable the party to play more proactive role inside and outside parliament.

“Party leaders also decided to constitute another committee headed by Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and including Chaudhry Hamid Nasir Chattha and Gohar Ayub Khan to play an effective role in running the party and suggest names of consensus candidates for various office-bearers at the time of next elections, besides steps for holding party elections.”

In what appeared to be a compromise, Mr Chattha and his group withdrew their demand for immediate party elections after Chaudhry Shujaat assured them that Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi would not be a candidate for the top party post.

The meeting, which lasted about four and a half hours, discussed internal differences against the background of formation of forward blocs in the Senate, national and provincial assemblies.