PML-LM trying to unite factions

Published January 18, 2002

ISLAMABAD Jan 17: Pakistan Muslim League (like-minded group) President Mian Mohammad Azhar has convened a meeting of the party’s central working committee here on Feb 3 to review the situation arising out of government’s decisions about future elections.

The government on Wednesday announced that elections to the National Assembly and the provincial assemblies would be held on the basis of joint electorate, the National Assembly would consist of 350 seats instead of the existing 237 seats and 60 seats would be reserved for women.

The PML-LM meeting will ponder over the possibility of entering into an alliance with other parties to contest the general election scheduled to be held in October.

Mian Azhar will also hold a meeting with former speaker and chief of his own faction of the PML, Hamid Nasir Chatha, in the next few days to ascertain whether there are any prospects of reunification with his faction.

According to the party’s joint secretary, Azeem Chaudhry, most of the party’s leaders stressed at meeting on Jan 13 the need for launching fresh efforts to unite party factions, except the PML-N. The meeting empowered Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain to take further steps to help achieve the task.

In line with this policy, Mian Azhar, with Gohar Ayub Khan and Chauhdry Shujaat Hussain, will visit Pir jo Goth (upper Sindh), the residence area of veteran Muslim Leaguer Pir of Pagara Sharif, on Jan 19.

Opinion

Editorial

Doctor attacked
09 Jun, 2026

Doctor attacked

AN act of reprehensible violence has shaken the medical community. On Saturday, an employee of the Provincial Civil...
AJK flare-up
Updated 09 Jun, 2026

AJK flare-up

The situation started deteriorating after a trader affiliated with the JAAC was reportedly shot in an altercation with law-enforcers.
Fault lines
09 Jun, 2026

Fault lines

THE April 8 ceasefire that halted hostilities between Israel and Iran has encountered its most serious test yet....
Soft on traders
08 Jun, 2026

Soft on traders

THE Fixed Tax Asaan Scheme for traders with an annual turnover of up to Rs200m has been designed as a ‘pragmatic...
Ceasefire in name
Updated 08 Jun, 2026

Ceasefire in name

Both sides accuse the other of violating the truce that was supposed to halt the conflict in April, yet neither appears willing to abandon negotiations altogether.
Damaged childhoods
08 Jun, 2026

Damaged childhoods

CHILD abuse is so prevalent that the UN ranked Pakistan as the least safe country for children. Even so, more than...