ISLAMABAD June 23: The Central Executive Committee (CEC) of the six party pro-Musharraf National Alliance has decided to speed up preparations for the October polls, alliance’s General Secretary, Mohammad Ali Durrani, told newsmen on Saturday.

In a meeting, presided over by Chairman, Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi, attended by the top brass (without Tahirul Qadri chairman Pakistan Awami Tehrik), a new partner in Balochistan National Party (Awami), President Mir Mohem Khan Baloch, was welcomed into the fold.

Tahirul Qadri has not been attending alliance’s central leadership meetings; he even missed meeting President Musharraf.

On his return from abroad Qadri told newsmen last week that his party’s general council was not favour of joining the alliance.

Durrani, however, refuted reports of PAT’s distancing from the alliance saying all meetings, including today’s, were fully represented by PAT leadership.

Deputies of PAT Chairman, Pir Khalilur Rahman Chishti, and Anwar Alvi, confirmed that the party was very much part of the alliance.

Those who attended the meeting included, Sardar Farooq Ahmed Khan Leghari, Convener CEC, Arbab Ghulam Rahim, Sindh National Democratic Alliance, Ajmal Khattak, NAPP, Mir Mohem Khan Baloch, BNP(A), Syed Khalilur Rahman Chishti, Vice-Chairman PAT, Mir tAj Mohammad Jamali, Malik Fareedullah Khan, and Mohammad Ali Durrani.

Durrani said that the alliance had decided to hold workers’ conventions at the provincial level at Faisalabad on June 30, at Quetta on July 7, and at Lahore on July 14.

These conventions would also be held at the district level; women’s wing will also be set up.

While debating the national political scenario and border situation the alliance reiterated that the nation was united in its stand against enemy’s aggression.