Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, the chief of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), on Sunday, visited his estranged cousin, Parvez Elahi, the president of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), at Lahore Camp Jail. This is his second visit in recent times, possibly indicating a thaw in the previously strained familial ties.
Shujaat’s son, Chaudhry Salik, and brother, Chaudhry Wajahat, were also present during this meeting, indicating the significance of the visit.
In addition to inquiring about Elahi’s health, the family members also discussed the ongoing political situation in the country.
Health Check-Up and Legal Troubles
Before the meeting, a medical board team, including Dr Amir Hussain Bandesha and Dr Abdul Basit, arrived at Camp Jail to conduct a check-up on Elahi, who has been in police custody since the beginning of June.
Elahi was recently rearrested by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in a new case shortly after a court had ordered his release. He is among the PTI leaders sticking with the party, despite the government crackdown leading to a large-scale exit of leaders from the former ruling party.
Read: PTI President Chaudhry Parvez Elahi Arrested in Money Laundering Case
Last month, Shujaat visited Elahi at Lahore Camp Jail, hinting at a potential reconciliation between the cousins, who were once deemed inseparable but had a public falling out. The dispute emerged when Elahi, a former senior leader of the PML-Q, joined the PTI in March, causing tensions within the family.
Simultaneously, significant figures of the PML-N and PPP — the two major parties in the ruling coalition — have gathered in Dubai to discuss a political strategy, sparking debates about a potential political shake-up in Pakistan in the coming days. The presence of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, his daughter and party’s senior vice president Maryam Nawaz, PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari, and his son Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari in the city suggests that significant political changes may be on the horizon.
Read: PPP Leaders Arrive in Dubai for Meetings, Nawaz Sharif Expected to Return