18 July 2004	Sunday	29 Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1425

ISLAMABAD, July 17: The Pakistan Muslim League (PML) on Saturday submitted a certificate before the Election Commission regarding the holding of intra-party election and acquisition of its preferred election symbol of 'bicycle' for the Aug 18 by- elections in Attock and Tharparkar, party's Secretary Information Senator Tariq Azeem said.

Acting Chief Election Commissioner Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar had directed the PML to submit the certificate in this regard by July 18.

"We have (certified to) the election commission ... that intra-party elections for party's office-bearers would be held soon after amendments in the Political Parties Order (PPO)," Senator Azeem said. The bill, which was moved before the National Assembly on Friday, sought deletion of Article 9 from the PPO that barred holders of public offices from holding offices in a political party.

Tariq Azeem explained that during May 12 merger of five parties to become unified PML, Chaudhry Shujat Hussain was elected as party's president and was delegated powers to nominate office-bearers to run party affairs until the intra- party elections.

The PPO called for holding party elections after every four years, he explained.

A meeting of PML's general council, comprising 1,500 members, would soon be called to endorse the nomination of office-bearers by Chaudhry Shujat Hussain in addition to the holding of the intra-party elections.

At the time of unification of PML (Ziaul Haq group), PML (Jinnah group), PML (Junejo), PML (Functional) and Sindh Democratic Alliance with Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid-i-Azam), five resolutions passed by the respective councils of these parties were provided to the Election Commission in addition to the amended constitution of the unified PML and information regarding the election of Chaudhry Shujat Hussain as president of PML.