Situationer Young blood to blame for split among Chaudhrys?

THE Chaudhry brothers of Gujrat, who have remained relevant in the national politics for decades, seem to have reached a point where their much-publicised family ties have all but snapped off. Their elders may have never imagined such a situation. The reason: a split in the political opinion among their offspring that is casting a cloud over the future of their politics.

Differences among the scions of the Chaudhrys - Shujaat Hussain, his cousin Parvez Elahi and brother Wajahat Hussain - started surfacing when the nine-party coalition, spearheaded by the PML-N and PPP, approached their party - the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) - back in February with a 'lucrative package', including the Punjab chief minister's office, ministries both in the Centre and Punjab and future seat adjustments with PML-N in exchange for withdrawing their support for Imran Khan and helping them oust him from the office of prime minister through a no-confidence motion.

There was an impression that the Chaudhry family may not have come to the verge of falling apart had the powerful military establishment given the PML-Q a clear signal about which side it should choose - the PML-N-led alliance or Mr Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI).

It is an open secret that the Chaudhry brothers are 'very close' to the establishment. But apparently this time, the powerful quarters did not give the PML-Q any line of action at the time of moving the no-trust resolution against Khan, as the establishment had declared itself 'neutral'. There were also reports that some pro-Khan elements within the establishment wanted Chaudhry Parvez Elahi to keep supporting the PTI. However, the PML-Q dismisses this impression, saying 'supporting Mr Khan was purely a decision of Mr Elahi and his son, MNA Moonis Elahi, backed by Wajahat's son, MNA Hussain Elahi, and party activists'.

In the current scenario, Punjab Assembly Speaker Elahi, former federal minister Wajahat and their sons Moonis and Hussain, respectively, have preferred to maintain their alliance with the PTI, while PML-Q president Chaudhry Shujaat and his sons, MNA Salik Hussain and Shafay Hussain, entered the ruling coalition camp along with two other party MNAs. Salik has also been inducted into Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's cabinet.

The real problem or challenge the ChauA!dhrys are facing today is evolving a consensus to bring the entire family on the same page.

The Elahi camp, practically led by Moonis - who was a part of...