Elahi unhappy with Baryar for contesting Sialkot by-elections on PTI ticket

LAHORE: Veteran Politician and Speaker Punjab Assembly Chaudhry Pervez Elahi is not happy with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership and PML-Q Punjab’s Senior Vice President Saleem Baryar whose son Ahsan Saleem Baryar, instead of contesting the Sialkot PP-38 by-elections on PML-Q’s ticket, preferred PTI’s ticket and won the seat for the ruling party, BOL News has learnt.

Sources added that PTI leadership needs to address PML-Q leadership’s grievances especially those of Pervez Elahi.

“PTI is already in trouble on account of disgruntled leader Jahangir Tareen’s group creating some problems. And in such a situation they cannot afford to sour ties with key ally PML-Q,” a senior PTI leader said while speaking on condition of anonymity.

Another senior PML-Q leader, who wished not to be named, told BOL News that Elahi was quite upset on Monday when Ahsan Saleem Baryar took oath as member of the Punjab Assembly.

“He (Elahi) probably didn’t allow Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan to enter Punjab Assembly as she is the one who actually handed over the PTI ticket to Ahsan Baryar after Qaiser Baryar’s appeal to contest elections was rejected by the Lahore High Court’s election tribunal,” he said.

The senior leader added that although former Special Assistant to Chief Minister (SACM) Dr Firdous’s name was not on the list of guests, the Speaker Punjab Assembly could have allowed her to witness the oath-taking ceremony.

“It was evident from how upset Pervez Elahi is with Dr Firdous when she was not allowed to enter PA,” he said.

“After the Tareen group’s differences with the PTI’s top leadership including Prime Minister Imran Khan, the Buzdar-led government in Punjab cannot afford any other controversy for the time being,” a senior PTI leader told Bol News.

“PTI leadership should have taken PML-Q on board before the PP-38 Sialkot by-elections. It is better late than never. The party leadership must address the differences with PML-Q over to salvage the grim situation,” another senior PTI leader said.

He added that if such issues and differences are not addressed promptly, it could widen the rift between PTI and PML-Q and that will be a decisive blow to the party.

“So, this issue needs to be addressed on war footings otherwise, PPP and PML-N might try using this to their benefit which doesn’t seem likely but is definitely not out of question,” a senior PTI leader concluded.

It is pertinent to mention that Ahsan Saleem Baryar is the son-in-law of CM Buzdar’s Principal Secretary Tahir Khursheed. His father Saleem Baryar was appointed SVP Punjab by Chaudhry Pervez Elahi in July 2019.