LAHORE, June 18: The chances of merger of various factions of the PML dimmed on Tuesday as the Functional Muslim League refused to recognize the PML(Q) as a party, and announced joining hands with its rival PML(N).

A source close to Pir Pagaro told Dawn after a meeting with the spiritual leader that “powers that be” were pressuring other factions to merge themselves with the PML(Q) under the leadership of Mian Azhar. This, he said, was a bitter pill, difficult for the Functional Muslim League to swallow.

He said the Functional Muslim League had called a meeting of its central working committee on June 30 in Lahore to discuss the situation and decide its future course of action. Leaders from all provinces along with a number of observers are also being invited to the meeting.

It is not clear whether the heads of the six parties, as decided in the Friday meeting, will now be able to meet to discuss modalities of the merger.

A PML (Chattha group) official has, meanwhile, established contact with PML(N) Chairman Raja Zafarul Haq. However, it is not clear whether there was any progress in their talks.

The source claimed that the PML(N) had sent some positive signals of unity among various factions provided the PML(Q) was kept out of the unified party.

But, PML(N) chief Raja Zafarul Haq said that his party was more keen in upholding principles. “Merger or no merger, we have to first see what policy the other factions will like to pursue,” he said while talking to Dawn.

The source said the Functional Muslim League was an ardent supporter of President Pervez Musharraf and it wanted all PML factions to get united to strengthen the position of the military ruler.

Observers say that this stance would keep the PML(N) away from any coalition as it has no soft corner for the Musharraf government. The PML(N), being a component of the ARD, does not recognize Gen Musharraf as president nor does it accept his right to amend the Constitution.

PML(Q) Secretary-General Gohar Ayub Khan, who represented his party in the Friday talks, is reluctant to spell out his party’s conditions for the merger. “Merger of all factions into the PML(Q) is one of the options. The matter will be discussed in detail when heads of various factions meet,” the reticent former foreign minister said.

However, another PML(Q) official Azeem Chaudhry said his party had set no preconditions for the merger expect that it would not dissolve its organizational structures.

The PML(Q) wants that other factions should merge themselves with it and in return they would be offered offices in the central and provincial organizations.