31 July 2004	Saturday	13 Jamadi-us-Saani 1425

ISLAMABAD, July 30: Pakistan People's Party (PPP-S) on Friday announced its central office-bearers and vowed to continue its alliance with the PML beyond next general elections.

Speaking at a press conference, PPP Chairman and Defence Minister Rao Sikandar Iqbal said the provincial party cadres would be announced next week after which the party would be organised at the grass-roots level. The phase-wise announcement of provincial office-bearers would begin from Sunday.

The first convention of the party will be held in Lahore. However, he did not exactly specify when it would be held. Subsequently, Mr Iqbal said conventions would be held in all provincial capitals.

He said the first target before the party was the forthcoming local bodies polls. These would be contested in alliance with the PML, he added. PPP President and Federal Minister for Water and Power Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao announced the names of the office-bearers.

These are Rao Sikandar Iqbal (chairman), Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao (president), Faisal Saleh Hayat (general secretary), Nauraiz Shakoor (senior vice president), Muzaffar Shah (vice president), Khalid Lund (vice president), Tanvir Syed (secretary information), Aneesa Zeb (finance secretary) and Sher Afghan Niazi (parliamentary leader).

All MNAs and senators have been named as members of the central executive committee. The CEC members are Rais Muneer, Raza Hayat Hiraj, Amir Yar, Faiz Tamman, Asad Gillani, Aslam Bodla, Malik Niaz Jhakkar, Chaudhry Imranullah, Sher Akbar Khan, Dr Nisar Ahmed and Shujaul Mulk.

The total strength of the CEC would be raised to 30. Mr Sherpao said provincial quota would be observed while completing the CEC. Both Mr Sherpao and Rao Sikandar ruled out any rapprochement with the 'faction' led by its leader Ms Benazir Bhutto.

However, they parried a question if they would take steps to stop Ms Bhutto and her faction from using the name of PPP. PPP has no concern with Benazir Bhutto, they announced. Mr Sherpao said a committee would be formed to finalise the manifesto of the party.