May 8, 2006	Monday	Rabi-us-Sani 9, 1427

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FAISALABAD, May 7: Despite clear instructions from PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif to get united, differences between city and district party office-bearers have widened as both the groups did not attend conventions of each other.

The PML-N’s district body is getting stronger owing to the maximum participation of party leaders which could be judged from the fact that out of seven parliamentarians of Faisalabad, five including two MNAs, have the support for the district wing. While one MNA, Rana Asif Tauseef, had recently parted his ways and joined the ruling party.

The workers convention, arranged by the district body in the local press club, was addressed by Punjab president Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa, MNA Maimona Hashmi while local leaders — PML-N parliamentary leader in PA Rana Sanaullah Khan, MPAs Sheikh Ijaz Ahmed, Malik Muhammad Nawaz, MNA Raja Nadir Pervaiz and former MNAs Mian Abdul Mannan and Mian Muhammad Farooq were prominent figures among participants.

While the convention, arranged by the city wing, was also addressed by the provincial party chief, but none of the elected MNAs or MPAs from Faisalabad attended the event.

Although the convention held in Eidgah grounds was situated in the constituency of PML-N MPA Sheikh Muhammad Ijaz, he preferred to stay away from the convention.

The city group is being led by former MPA and city president Khawaja Muhammad Islam with the backing of former MNA Chaudhry Sher Ali, his son MNA Abid Sher Ali and former MPAs Rana Muhammad Afzal and Zeeshan Elahi Shah.

Party sources claimed that the London meeting, which was presided over by part chief Nawaz Sharif, had decided to hold two workers’ conventions in Faisalabad and all groups had been directed to take part in both functions.

The absence of elected MNAs and MPAs from the city workers convention was a clear proof of sharp differences among both the groups.