ISLAMABAD, April 6: The Pakistan Muslim League (QA) feels that it has been hit in the back by the government in the process of delimitation of constituencies but has decided not to agitate the issue to save its future role in the parliament.

“We were given the assurance by the government that we would be given help and protection in the delimitation process so that PML QA members remain unaffected but practically many potential candidates have been hit hard,” Mian Azhar said while addressing the party’s CEC meeting here on Saturday.

“It would have been better if delimitation was carried out in consultation with our candidates,” he said, but added that being the “largest emerging political party” it should abide by what the government has done. “Around 200,000 voters have been put in my constituency that is very difficult for me to handle,” said PML QA member Shujat Ali Khan.

Mian Azhar cited the example of Naeem Chattha’s constituency where he has been adversely affected by the process of delimitation.

Inside sources said that party leader Mian Azhar promised the CEC that he would raise the issue of graduation condition for contesting elections once again with President Gen Pervez Musharraf during the next meeting. “I would do whatever I could before the president...even bow my head to plead that,” said Azhar, trying to allay the fears of party members not having the required educational qualification.

Senior Vice President PML QA, when contacted, ruled out the possibility of PML QA meeting with President Musharraf again on Monday, a day prior to Gen Musharraf’s first public address in Lahore on April 9.

“It is a rumour that PML QA is meeting the President on Monday,” Ijaz-ul-Haq said.

Expressing concern over violation of party discipline by some members, Mian Azhar told the meeting that 33 members of the party met Gen Musharraf on their own in recent past. They have already assured President Musharraf of support in the future parliament, he said.

About alliance with other parties, Mian Azhar apprised the party members that PML QA was not in a position to take a solo flight. He told the party members to explore possibility of forming alliance with other political parties.

He said the party members from Punjab were of the opinion that the government should take the PML QA members along with it in various public meetings. However, he said the government was not receptive to the idea for want of support and fear of annoying its potential support in other parties.

President Women Wing, Nilofer Bakhtiar, when contacted said issues relating to delimitation of constituencies, graduation requirement and alliance with other parties were discussed.