The PML-Q intra-party elections would be held on August 12 and the schedule for the polls would be announced in the first week of July. "The party polls would be held on August 12. However, the schedule would formally be announced shortly. I have talked to the high command of the party who have confirmed to this effect," said Ghulam Mustafa Malik, Central Media Co-ordinator, PML-Q, while exclusively talking to APP.
"President PML-Q Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain would soon nominate Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) to conduct the party polls. The CEC would hold the party polls in four provinces and the Provincial Councils would elect the office bearers. Later, the polls for central offices would be held on August 12," he added.
As the party polls are nearing, new groups are emerging and the aspirants for the party slots are expected to come to the fore during next few weeks.
The PML-Q sources say that the Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain group is confident of its re-election to the party crown while Mushahid Hussain Syed is set to be re-elected as Secretary General despite the fact that Mushahid Hussain has told Chaudhry Shujaat of his inability to perform the duties as Secretary General.
For the purpose, the Party Constitution would be amended in mid July to facilitate the process of re-election of Chaudhry Shujaat for a third term as the Constitution bars anyone hold party's top slot for more than two terms.
A young MNA from Punjab and a close associate of Pervaiz Elahi is also pressing the Chaudhrys to win the slot of Secretary General. On the other hand, Senator Salim Saifullah Khan has made his desires public to run for the office of President PML-Q. However, another heavy weight party leader, Chaudhry Hamid Nasir Chattha, who is also a vocal leader of the dissident group, is holding meetings with his like minded friends with an intent to compete for the same office.
A leading party leader, requesting anonymity, told the APP that the group would urge both Chaudhry Hamid Nasir Chattha and Salim Saifullah Khan to decide who would contest for the party's top slot.
"We are mulling efforts to convince Salim Saifullah and Chaudhry Hamid Nasir Chattha to decide that who would run for the President's slot. The one who withdraws would be made Chief Patron or Chairman of the party," said a party leader.
Well placed party sources informed APP that Humayon Saifullah Khan, a former federal minister, is also planning to join the race for the slot of party's Secretary General.
He has emerged as the sole leader of the dissident group of the party for the slot of Secretary General while his campaign is being run by Kashmala Tariq, the most vocal PML-Q MNA who had formed a forward bloc in the National Assembly with around 30 MNAs in the group.
In this regard, Humayon Akhtar Khan recently hosted a dinner for the party's MNAs and Kashmala Tariq extended invitations to all the party legislators on behalf of Humayon Akhtar.
"At the dinner, most of the party leaders, led by MNA Riaz Fatyana, criticised the Chaudhry brothers for turning the party into a "Family Enterprise". Fatyana vowed to resist such efforts, saying that if this family rule continues, the party would loose its identity as a democratic party," said a party legislator who also attended the dinner. This was the maiden dinner hosted by Humayon Akhtar who kept himself aloof from the party activities for quite some time after loosing the general elections 2007.
On the other hand, Chaudhry Camp is still silent over making its strategy public while the party stalwarts loyal to the Chaudhrys group, are making hectic efforts to seek the blessings of the party leadership for party elections.
Marvi Memon is another aspirant for the party elections, while Faisal Saleh Hayat would also be accommodated by the Chaudhrys as Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has practically taken over the affairs as an undeclared parliamentary leader of the PML-Q in the National Assembly. Moreover, Sardar Awais Leghari would also be given a party office for the continued support of the Leghari group towards Chaudhrys of Gujrat.