Elahi downplays video of PML-Q leaders asking Tareen to 'control' Chaudhry Sarwar
The Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid's (PML-Q) reported differences with the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) spilled out into the open on Saturday as a video emerged of the former's leaders complaining to PTI's Jahangir Tareen about Punjab Governor Chaudhry Sarwar "interference".
The emergence of the video, released by the PML-Q media cell itself, led Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi to call a press conference to reaffirm ties with the PTI, of which his party (PML-Q) is a coalition partner.
The video showed three PML-Q leaders — Elahi, MNA Tariq Bashir Cheema and Minister for Mines and Minerals Hafiz Ammar Yasir — chatting with PTI stalwart Jahangir Tareen in an informal setting.
Towards the end of the video, Cheema can be heard telling Tareen: "Sir, kindly control this Sarwar. He will not let your chief minister continue." Elahi can be heard repeating the same: "Control this Sarwar." The video then ends abruptly.
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Elahi downplayed the video at a press conference later, saying it was normal for coalition partners to sit down and talk their "grievances" out.
"If we don't talk with our partners sitting at home, then how will the party function and complaints be addressed?" the provincial assembly speaker asked.
Explaining what had transpired during the meeting, Elahi said Cheema was presenting before Tareen an "old complaint" regarding "interference" in his constituency, allegedly by Sarwar. He said similar complaints have been received from 2-3 constituencies.