December 29, 2002	Sunday	Shawwal 24, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, Dec 28: People’s Party Patriot on Saturday caused further dent to People’s Party Parliamentarian by wooing another National Assembly member, Faiz Taman, and claimed that two more would defect soon.

Taman, who had jointed the PPP after returning to the National Assembly as an independent candidate from NA-61, Chakwal, announced joining of the group at a press conference at the official residence of the defence minister.

Defence minister and chairman of the Patriots group, Rao Sikandar Iqbal, Interior Minister Faisal Saleh Hayat, Petroleum and Natural Resources Minister Norez Shakoor and minister of state for water and power, Khalid Lund, were also present.

“We have not opened the floodgates,” Faisal said claiming that a large number of the PPP MNAs were ready to join his group.

He lashed out at the policies of the PPP and said a clique calling shots in the absence of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto had caused irreparable damage to it.

“We did not know as to what was the party policy,” he said in reply to a question. The party leadership, he claimed, was confused about the formation of government.

The PPP members had never deserted the party in such a large number as was witnessed after the elections, Rao Sikandar said.

The defence minister said there was frustration among the members of the PPP. By forming the group, he said, they had tried to break free the party members from the hegemony of a small clique running the party.

Despite criticizing the party policies, including some decisions taken by her, the ministers reposed their confidence on the leadership of Ms Bhutto and said: “She is still our leader.”

“We have saved the system by forming the Patriots group,” Mr Iqbal said.