GUJRAT: MNA Muhammad Ilyas Chaudhry, elected fromNA-62 with PTI backing, has rejected an ECP’s notification of confirming his joining the PML-Q.

In an audio message, Ilyas Chaudhry vowed to remain loyal to PTI founder Imran Khan and said way the ECP conducted the polls and denied reserve seats to the SIC, it was no more trustworthy.

He downplayed the ECP’s letter written in response to an earlier letter sent to ECP by his rival candidate Abid Raza Kotla of the PML-N, seeking the identification of the fourth MNA who joined the PML-Q after getting elected as an independent candidate.

But he did not term the notification fake nor he commented on the reports of his submitting an affidavit of joining the PML-Q.

None from the PML-Q leadership has so far commented on the development.

A party source said the leadership had been keeping quite as a strategy.

He said the situation would clear on the National Assembly floor where the MNA would either join the treasury benches or those of the opposition.

Meanwhile, PML-Q leader Chaudhary Salik Hussain has vacated the PP-32 seat after joining the national assembly.

PTI candidates from NA-64 Qaisara Elahi and her spouse Chaudhry Parvez Elahi from PP 32 have already challenged in the court the notification of Salik Hussain as returned candidate from both seats.

Published in Dawn, March 11th, 2024