As per a decision by the core committee of the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf (PTI) former Punjab Assembly Speaker Pervez Elahi from PTI ally PML-Q is going to be the coalition candidate for Chief Minister.
The nomination of Elahi, a legendary anti-establishment figure famous in the nation’s progressive, pro-democracy circles, is a reflection of the PTI’s shift towards an anti-establishment orientation.
“His is a struggle against the military establishment that spans more than four decades,” said noted political analyst Ayaz Amir.
“Together with his cousin Chauhdry Shujaat, the PML-Q has been fighting the fight of civilian supremacy since the party’s inception by the father of Pakistani democracy, Pervez Musharraf.”
Some within the PTI fear, however, that Elahi just might be too anti-establishment. “We need to strike a balance, and be slightly more friendly towards the establishment as compared to Pervez Elahi,” said Fawad Chaudhry, requesting anonymity.
Others don’t find fault as much with Elahi’s anti-establishment image as they do with his not being from the PTI.
”The clean sweep in the bypolls wasn’t because of the PML(Q) but was actually a verdict on the good performance of Usman Buzdar. Why isn’t he our candidate,” asked Usman Buzdar, also on the condition of anonymity.
