12 July 2004	Monday	23 Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1425

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ISLAMABAD, July 11: The Pakistan Muslim League has prepared an amendment to the Political Parties Order, 2002, which will be presented before the National Assembly session starting on July 16.

This was stated by the party's central information secretary Senator Tariq Azeem while addressing a joint press conference with secretary-general Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed and senior vice-president Akram Zaki at the PML house on Sunday.

Mr Azeem said the PPO was to be amended in order to allow the central and provincial presidents and other office-bearers of the party to retain the government offices as well.

Replying to a question about the requirement of submission of intra-party election results to the Election Commission, he said the party would intimate the EC (about this) as soon as possible, and definitely before July 18.

He said the PML had already intimated the EC about the election of Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain as the party president. About the representation of opposition members in the standing committees of both the houses, Mushahid Hussain told a questioner that the number of opposition members on the standing committees of both the houses could be increased according to their strength in parliament.

Senator Azeem said that the committees were formed in consultation with leader of the house and leader of the opposition. There was no leader of the opposition when these committees were constituted. "Therefore, the opposition members have their reservations on their representation," Mr Azeem said.

He denied that government machinery was being used in the election campaign of Senior Minister Shaukat Aziz. He said acting chief election commissioner had also explained that, so far, the official machinery had not been used in Mr Aziz's poll campaign. Asked if Mr Aziz would resign as senior minister to contest election, he said the rule was applicable only to ministers of an interim government. -APP