Meeting with Zardari aimed at strengthening democracy: Shujaat

Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q) leaders Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi say that President Asif Ali Zardari had a dinner meeting with PML-Q leadership on Saturday at Presidency 'for greater good of the nation.'
The rejuvenated stalwarts of PML-Q were talking to newsmen after offering condolence over the death of former PPP MNA Khalid Ghurki, husband of Federal Minister Samina Ghurki here on Sunday.
"Our meeting with the President was aimed at strengthening the democratic system in the country so that the government could complete its term in accordance with the mandate of the people," they emphasised.
Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain said they had asked the government to solve the country's problems. "We want the government to improve its working and the judiciary and the army should performance their own constitutional duties," he added.
Commenting on Shahbaz Sharif's proposal to hold consultations with the army and the judiciary for solution of the country's chronic problems, Shujaat said, "those who are inviting army and the judiciary are in fact hiding their own failures."
He said Sharif brothers' political future was bleak but that of Punjab province was bright. "They talk of high moral ground but have stolen PML-Q's mandate in Punjab. They are doing politics of "borrowing" and would be held responsible for this crime," he added.
Regarding the 'unification bloc' Shujaat said, "all political parties, media and civil society have condemned this 'lota-cracy.'
Former Chief Minister Punjab Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi bitterly criticised Sharif brothers' political, administrative and financial policies. "They have tried to turn their minority into majority by breaking mandate of PML-Q," he added.
Elahi said Sharif brothers had destroyed Punjab and not taken a single positive step during the past three years.
Elahi said Shahbaz Sharif had no administrative quality. He has turned a financially surplus and prosper province into a mortgaged, bankrupt , and socially ruined province.
Political analysts here say that new political alliances are in the making in the wake of disturbed political alignment after the demise of an unnatural PML-N, PPP coalition in Punjab and MQM's intended separation from the PPP led Sindh government.
Analysts attach great importance to PML-Q leaders surprise dinner meeting with President Asif Ali Zardari at the Presidency in Islamabad on Saturday under the glare of TV cameras.
They say that Chaudharies of Gujrat always considered "Bhutto family" as their sworn enemy since they had blamed PPP leadership for murder of their father late Chaudhry Zahoor Elahi.
On the other hand PPP Co-chairperson and President Asif Ali Zardari called PML-Q as "Qatil League" after assassination of PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto in December 2007.
Reportedly during the meeting President Zardari offered PML-Q to join the Federal Cabinet in order to counter the daily threats of MQM of leaving the Sindh government and withdrawing its support for PPP in the National Assembly.
On the other side, PML-Q also needs urgent government patronage or share in the power structure to remain relevant in the upcoming local bodies and the next general elections, which are now not far off. So it would an ideal marriage of convenience.
Though Chaudhry Shujaat is reported to have told the President that he would reply to his offer of joining the Federal government by the end of this month.