October 28, 2003	Tuesday	Ramazan 1, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, Oct 27: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali on Monday held a meeting with members of parliamentary groups of the Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid-i-Azam) and its allied parties after his return from abroad.

Sources told this correspondent that in the meeting, which was held before the start of the National Assembly session, members of treasury benches expressed their resentment over the attitude of some federal ministers and district government representatives, terming them non-cooperative.

Some of the treasury members expressed their anger over non- provision of development funds.

Asking the prime minister to take notice of the situation, sources said, they accused district Nazims and other local government officials of running a parallel government.

Sources said the members complained about the ministers’ absence from their respective offices and the assembly, telling the prime minister about difficulties they had to face in resolving the people’s problems.

The prime minister, sources said, took strong notice of the ministers’ absence and directed them to ensure their presence in their respective offices and the assembly.

He also directed ministers to cancel their foreign tours at least for the next 15 days.

According to sources the prime minister had said that presently there were no plans to expand the cabinet.

Sources said the prime minister had told the coalition members that the government would soon constitute between 25 and 30 standing committees, adding that the opposition, despite repeated requests, had not nominated its representatives.

Sources quoted Mr Jamali as saying that he would not wait any further in this regard.