After a close call with defeat, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday heaved a sigh of relief and thanked PPP Co-Chairman and former President Asif Ali Zardari and PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain for their role in the Punjab Chief Minister election which changed PML-N’s fate.
To clarify, in a shocking outcome of events, the PML-N on Friday won a dramatic victory against the PTI that very few had predicted in the Punjab chief minister’s election. PTI was set for victory as its candidate for Punjab Chief Minister Parvez Elahi received 186 votes (PTI and PML-Q votes combined) whereas PML-N’s Hamza Shehbaz received 179 votes.
At the last moment, Dost Mazari received a letter from PML-Q head Chaudhry Shujaat instructing his MPAs to vote for PML-N’s candidate. As a result, Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Dost Mohammad Mazari ruled that PML-Q members’ votes were not counted in light of the party head’s letter, consequently making Hamza Shehbaz the Chief Minister.
Read more: Hamza Shehbaz re-elected as the Chief Minister of Punjab
In a series of tweets, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hailed Zardari and Ch. Shujaat for “protecting democracy and constitutional values.” The premier also thanked all coalition parties and their respected leaders for the political insight, unity, and support due to which the “democracy won”.
PM Shehbaz thanks Zardari, Ch. Shujaat
“Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain is the political heir and pioneer of Chaudhry Zahoor Elahi Shaheed. He once again revived the democratic tradition of his great father and family. His role is a victory for democracy and constitutional values for which I pay tribute to Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, his family, and colleagues,” the premier tweeted.
“Former President Asif Ali Zardari has played a historic role for the constitution, democracy, and the people. Former President Zardari’s political tolerance ended the crisis,” he further added.
> ان کا یہ کردار جمہوریت اور آئینی اقدار کی جیت ہے جس پر چوہدری شجاعت حسین، ان کے خاندان، اور ساتھیوں کو خراج تحسین پیش کرتا ہوں۔ سابق صدر آصف علی زرداری نے آئین، جمہوریت اور عوام کے لئے تاریخی کردار ادا کیا ہے۔ سابق صدر زرداری کی سیاسی رواداری نے بحران کا خاتمہ کر دیا۔
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) July 22, 2022
Important to note that Chaudhry Shujaat’s letter – which became the basis on which votes for Elahi were disregarded – had come a day after Asif Ali Zardari held a meeting with him. On the eve of the Punjab Chief Minister election, Asif Ali Zardari held a five-hour-long meeting with Chaudhry Shujaat in a last-ditch effort to woo him to support PML-N’s candidate Hamza Shahbaz. Needless to say, Zardari’s attempts were successful.