April 18, 2006	Tuesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 19, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, April 17: The members of the Pakistan People’s Party (Patriots) on Monday expressed concern over efforts of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML) to cause defection in the party and criticised two of their MNAs for leaving the party and joining the PML.

Speaking at a news conference after a meeting of the group here on Monday, federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat and federal Minister for Defence Rao Sikandar Iqbal said that they would also raise the issue with President Gen Pervez Musharraf.

Mr Hayat said that they would also move references against MNAs Sardar Khalid Ahmed Khan Lund and Rais Munir Ahmed for leaving the party as they had crossed the floor despite the fact that the article relating to floor-crossing had been effective. He said that Mr Lund and Mr Ahmed had not been attending party meetings for 18 months when they did not find any place in the federal cabinet.

Replying to a question, Mr Hayat said that in the meeting they also discussed matters relating to the party organisation and the strategy for the next general elections. He said the issue of Gen Musharraf’s uniform did not come up for discussion in the meeting.

In response to another question, he said that the PPP- Patriots members wanted to be taken into confidence before

a reshuffle of the federal cabinet.

According to a source, the three-hour meeting of the PPP-Patriots was attended by 15 members, including Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Sher Afgan Niazi.