Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid-e-Azam (PML-Q)

In 2001, several members of the PML-N broke away from the party and formed the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid-e-Azam (PML-Q).

Led by Mian Azhar and later Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, the PML-Q came to be known as the “King’s party” because of its close affiliation and support for General Pervez Musharraf.

The military also aided its success in the 2002 national elections as a result of which it won 25.7% votes and 126 out of 342 seats in the national assembly which allowed it to form a government in the center and in three of Pakistan’s four provinces.

While it contested the 2008 elections, deprived of military support, it garnered only 49 elected seats. The PML-Q joined the PPP-led ruling coalition in May 2011. Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, who heads the PML-Q in Punjab, was appointed Pakistan’s deputy prime minister in June 2012.

Members of the PML-Q were also inducted into the federal cabinet. While the PML-Q has frequently portrayed itself as a “moderate” party its president, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, has pledged his party to protest any change to the existing blasphemy laws.

According to him, it is the duty of every Muslim to defend the blasphemy laws.

The PML-Q has also spoken out against US drone strikes in Pakistan’s tribal areas and strongly opposed the restoration of NATO supply routes to Afghanistan, blocked by Pakistan in response to a US led NATO attack on Sala in 2011, which killed 24 Pakistani soldiers and wounded several others.

In 2001, several members of the PML-N broke away from the party and formed the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid-e-Azam (PML-Q). Led by Mian Azhar and later Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, the PML-Q came to be known as the “King’s party” because of its close affiliation and support for General Pervez Musharraf.

The military also aided its success in the 2002 national elections as a result of which it won 25.7% votes and 126 out of 342 seats in the national assembly which allowed it to form a government in the center and in three of Pakistan’s four provinces.

While it contested the 2008 elections, deprived of military support, it garnered only 49 elected seats. The PML-Q joined the PPP led ruling coalition in May 2011. Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, who heads the PML-Q in Punjab, was appointed Pakistan’s deputy prime minister in June 2012.

Members of the PML-Q were also inducted into the federal cabinet. While the PML-Q has frequently portrayed itself as a “moderate” party its president, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, has pledged his party to protest any change to the existing blasphemy laws.

According to him, it is the duty of every Muslim to defend the blasphemy laws.

The PML-Q has also spoken out against US drone strikes in Pakistan’s tribal areas and strongly opposed the restoration of NATO supply routes to Afghanistan, blocked by Pakistan in response to a US led NATO attack on Sala in 2011, which killed 24 Pakistani soldiers and wounded several others.