Chaudhrys not at good terms with Gilani

LAHORE, April 28: As the PML-Q has entered the final round of negotiations with the PPP to join the federal government, the Chaudhrys of Gujrat are not enjoying good relations with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, Dawn has learnt. The relations between the Chaudhrys – Shujaat Hussain and Pervaiz Elahi – and Gilani turned sour at the time of presidential address to the joint sitting of the parliament last month. The Chaudhrys are annoyed with Gilani for what they say 'misguiding' President Asif Ali Zardari about their position in the party. Gilani had reportedly told Zardari prior to the joint session on March 22 that only a handful of MNAs and senators were with the Chaudhrys and that he (PM) had spoken to remaining Q members who would not boycott his address. But except six members of the Like-Minded group, all the members of the Shujaat-led PML-Q boycotted Zardari's address. According to sources, the Chaudhrys not only raised the issue with Zaradri but also conveyed their 'annoyance' to Gilani through their party men. Subsequently, Gilani preferred not to attend the last week marriage ceremony of Shujaat's son in Lahore. Zardaris' sister Faryal Talpur however represented the president in the event. Now, all issues of the PPP-PML-Q alliance are being handled directly by President Zardari and the Chaudhrys. In the last couple of Zardari-Chaudhry meetings at the presidency, Gilani was not present. Though sources in PPP confirmed that Zardari had taken Gilani into confidence about sharing power with the Q, there had been no 'direct' contact between the PM and the Chaudhrys for the last month or so. The sources said Gilani was still interested in wooing the PML-N for the passage of forthcoming budget. "As the Q is almost certain to join hands with PPP in the centre, its leaders are pressing the Chaudhrys to normalise relations with the prime minister," a PML-Q leader said. He further said once the Q ministers would be in the cabinet, the Chaudhrys would have to talk to Gilani for most of the time.Meanwhile, the PML-Q's consultation with the party leaders and office-bearers across the country continues. Awais Leghari, the son of former president Sardar Farooq Leghari, appears to be a staunch opponent of the proposed alliance from the Q so far. Pervaiz Elahi and other Q stalwarts have already given a 'strong signal' of joining the federal government. PML-Q Senator Wasim Sajjad told Dawn that his party's alliance talks with the PPP were still under way. "We are consulting our party men, some are against it and others are in its favour. Once the consultation process is, it will be easy to reach a conclusion," he said.