22 January 2004	Thursday	29 Ziqa'ad 1424

LAHORE, Jan 21: The Punjab PPP executive committee on Wednesday rejected the proposal of distributing federal divisible pool among the provinces on the basis of revenues generated by each federating unit.

The formula has been given to please the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, the committee said in a resolution adopted at a meeting held under the chairmanship of Mr Qasim Zia.

Former state minister Makhdoom Shahabuddin briefed the participants about the implications of the formula. Information Secretary Naveed Chaudhry told reporters that his party was of the view that population should be made basis for apportionment of resources.

He said the PPP also demanded that the federal government should make it easier for the provinces to repay their outstanding loans. A resolution passed by the participants appealed to Ms Benazir Bhutto that turncoats or those who had worked against the party interests should not be allowed to rejoin the PPP. They condemned the elements who are out to damage the party. The participants resolved to frustrate the designs of such elements.

In response to a question, Naveed Chaudhry said that the Bhutto World Foundation had no organizational linkage with the PPP organization. However, he said, the party had no objection to anyone eulogising the services and philosophy of the late Bhutto. He told a questioner that the PPP office-bearers had not been invited to the seminar organized by the Bhutto World Foundation.