16 May 2004	Sunday	25 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1425

LAHORE, May 15: Fearing more defections the PPP high command has launched a campaign to take into confidence party's parliamentarians on various policies and dispel the impression that it is making decisions unilaterally.

One MNA and three MPAs have so far resigned from the party as well as assembly membership, accusing chairperson Benazir Bhutto of discrimination against them. Some have defected to form the Patriots group for joining the ruling coalition both at the centre and in Punjab.

The party MPs are worried over government's unwillingness to grant them development funds. They argue that by forming government after the general election in 2002 the party would have been in a better position to serve its voters and secure relief for its exiled leadership.

Sitting with the opposition, they apprehend, they are losing support in their respective constituencies as well as chances of win in the next elections.

Some MPs have also expressed reservations about unilateral decisions taken by the high command on various occasions without taking them into confidence.

Chairperson Benazir Bhutto's political secretary Naheed Khan, deputy secretary-general Mian Reza Rabbani and MNA Dr Safdar Abbasi on Saturday attended Punjab Assembly's parliamentary party meeting of the PPP to take the MPAs into confidence on these issues.

Some participants told this reporter that for the first time they were told that the PPP had not been asked to form government after the general election in 2002. Rather Makhdoom Amin Fahim had been asked to form a Patriots like group if he wanted to be the prime minister, they were informed.

However, the MPAs were asked to be patient as the present set-up would not last long and there were chances of it being wrapped up in September.

They were asked to make preparations for snap polls and suggest party's new manifesto on the basis of its 70s slogan of roti, kapra aur makaan.

The three leaders also tried to alleviate participants' reservationsthat the party was being run unilaterally and that it lacked democratic culture within its own ranks.

To dispel the impression, the chairperson has decided to increase consultation with various tiers of party leadership as well as the MPs.

They were invited to meet Ms Bhutto in London and discuss with her various party affairs in June.

However, the MPs who pleaded that they were not financially sound enough to bear the travelling and lodging costs for the London meeting were exempted from the meeting.

Punjab PPP president and parliamentary leader Qasim Zia told reporters after the meeting that senators, MNAs and MPAs from the province would meet the chairperson in London on June 1 and provincial and divisional party office-bearers on June 2.

Leaders of party's Lahore chapter, including district and zonal presidents, would call on Ms Bhutto on June 15, he added.

He also told reporters that PPP MPs from the province would meet in Islamabad on May 25 to discuss political situation in the country and organizational matters of the party.