BAHAWALPUR, Nov 23: Differences have surfaced in the ruling PML ranks after the nomination of new district office-bearers of the party by the high command.

Workers alleged that the nominations of PPP deserters had been made to degrade the sincere and loyal PML workers and office-bearers.

They said in fact the party had been held hostage by some of the opportunists against whom a movement and agitation would be launched in the district. They alleged that with the nomination of new office-bearers, the PML had not only lost its existence but also its separate entity and popularity.

A number of workers took a strong exception to the nomination of some of the ex-PPP men. The dissidents have threatened to organize protest camps against the nominations.

Recently, Syed Irfan Gardezi, a former MPA and nephew of ex-minister Syed Tasneem Nawaz Gardezi, was nominated as district president in place of ex-MPA Chaudhry Muhammad Iqbal.

Mr Iqbal had dissociated himself from Nawaz Sharif group after the creation of the PML-Q by Chaudhrys of Gujrat. Former Bahawalpur PPP secretary-general Salahuddin Jilani, Yazman city Nazim Ijazul Haq and UC Nazim Ishtiaq Ahmed Basra are considered close associates of district Nazim Chaudhry Tariq Cheema, who is also a PPP deserter.

Mr Jilani had also announced quitting the PPP along with Tariq Cheema in March this year. He was obliged by Tariq Cheema who appointed him (Jilani) as Ahmedpur East market committee chairman.

RELEASED HAILED: A small group of PPP workers, led by central executive committee member Khan Muhammad Hussain Azad advocate, took out a rally on Tuesday over the release of Mr Asif Ali Zardari.