PML-Q Fires Ch Shujat, Cheema As Rift Widens Within Party.

LAHORE -- In a bid to preempt any adAverse move by Ch Shujat HusAsain, the party faction led by Ch Parvez Elahi on Thursday called a meeting of the party's Central Working Committee (CWC) which recommendAed removal of Ch Shujat and Tariq Bashir Cheema from the party through intra-parAty elections.

Addressing a press conferAence after the meeting, SenAator Kamil Ali Agha said that the decision to expel Ch Shujat from the party has been takAen owing to his deteriorating health. 'Ch Shujat's heath is affecting the party decisions and it has been decided to remove him from the parAty', he said, adding that Tariq Bashir Cheema, the party secretary general, would also be removed as per recommendations of the party's CWC.

Kamil Agha who chaired the meeting further stated that a five-member ElecAtion Commission had been constituted to elect new office bearers of the parAty including the new party president. 'The intra-parAty elections will be held within ten days', he added.

The move comes days after Ch Shujat directed members of PML-Q's parAliamentary meeting in Punjab Assembly to vote for Hamza Shehbaz SharAif instead of Ch Parvez ElaAhi in the election for PunAjab chief...