PML-Q 'suspends' CM Elahi's basic membership for PTI merger talks.

LAHORE -- The Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) Monday suspended the basic party membership of Punjab Chief Minister Parvez Elahi for talking about the possibility of his party's possible merger with the Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

A show-cause notice served to Elahi mentioned that PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat called an urgent meeting of the senior leaders, where it was noted that the provincial president - Elahi - did not have the authority to merge the party with PTI.

"Your [Elahi] party membership is suspended until the explanation," the notice, a copy of which has also been sent to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), read.

The statement went on to say that PML-Q, as a political party, maintains its individual identity, vote bank, party discipline, and rules and regulations which Elahi violated through his statements.

In relation to that, you [Elahi] are served a notice of seven days demanding an explanation within those days - either as an individual or by the lawyer - for such an unlawful and unconstitutional act.

"Otherwise, action would be taken against you under the party constitution's article 16 and article 50," the notice added.

The decision to issue a show-cause notice to Elahi was taken during a high-level party meeting with Secretary-General Tariq Bashir Cheema, Senior Vice president Chaudhry Salik Hussain, and...