May 13, 2002	Monday	Safar 29, 1423

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ISLAMABAD May 12: A meeting of Pakistan Muslim League (QA) central working committee (CWC) is being held here on Monday to dispose of a complex agenda, including the efforts for reunification of party factions, reposing confidence in Mian Azhar as party head and to thwart the endeavours of replacing him as a precondition.

Party CWC will also discuss the current political situation in the light of government-sponsored efforts of forging political alliance, party’s initiative to bring in more prominent leaders from the PML(N), party’s position in future setup and to adopt resolutions, including the one by which it will repose confidence in the leadership of Mian Azhar.

Informed party sources confided to Dawn that the role of Ijazul Haq, who had left for the United States on Sunday morning, in a hurry, would also be discussed in the CWC meeting.

Sources said not only that an overwhelming majority of the party would reassure its support to party president but also “condemn” Ijazul Haq for his attempts of creating dissent against him, by falsely claiming that a formula was agreed upon in a recent Karachi meeting of the heads of the three factions envisaging formation of a supreme leadership council and to replace Mian Azhar as party president.

According to the sources, Ijazul Haq was asked by party president before leaving for abroad to delay his departure till the CWC was held but he ignored the his plea, and said he would be attending the graduation function of his son in America on May 19.

A source said Mian Azhar did not need fresh vote of confidence as he was constitutionally elected president till March 2004 and no amount of pressure from anywhere could reverse this decision.

Azim Chaudhry, party joint secretary, said how could Pir Pagara or Hamid Nasir Chattha accept Ijazul Haq as party chief, as the impression was being created, when the former was against the late Mohammad Khan Junejo’s elevation to party presidency under the stewardship of Zia-ul-Haq and the latter having never compromised with him (Junejo) because of his staunch support to Nawaz Sharif.

He dispelled the impression that the Karachi meeting had anything to do with the replacement of president.

He said that even if anyone was considered to replace Mian Azhar at any juncture it could not be Ijazul Haq because he does not hold the office of senior vice president in accordance with the party constitution.