KARACHI, July 25: Despite hectic efforts by the ruling PML’s high command, heads of various groups in the Sindh PML remained divided over who should lead the provincial chapter.

Differences among various groups resulted in the lapse of election date and still there are no signs of any of the three major groups withdrawing its favourite candidate for the top slot.

The office-bearers of Sindh PML were to be elected by July 25, according to the election scheduled announced by the party’s Election Coordinator, Kamil Ali Agha.

“The way PML-Q elections in Sindh are being conducted is contrary to the May 2 directive of President Gen Pervez Musharraf who had told PML Chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain during their meeting at the Army House in Lahore that the party elections should be free and transparent so that a precedent could be set for other political parties,” a candidate in the field said.

PML-Q Secretary General Mushahid Hussain, who paid an emergency visit to Sindh last week to narrow down differences between the Dr Arbab group and it rival Mehar, Jatoi and Sheikh groups to finalise consensus candidates for president and secretary general of the PML Sindh. However, no breakthrough in the reconciliation efforts could be achieved.

It is reliably learnt that shortly before President Musharraf’s current visit to Karachi, a senior official of a sensitive agency visited the city and discussed with the rival PML groups the outcome of Mushahid’s mediation. His report was submitted to the president, who is supposed to receive representatives of the groups during his stay here.

Circles close to the Sheikh group appeared not satisfied with the outcome of the Mushahid mission which, they believed failed to ensure implementation of the earlier agreement between Arbab and Sheikh groups despite a lapse of 10 days after Mushahid made a pledged in this regard. The only indication of a possible patch up between Arbab and Sheikh group was a meeting the CM’s House were Dr Arbab Rahim and Imtiaz Sheikh announced that they were ready to shun their mutual differences.

The circles recalled that in the July 15 meeting, it was decided that by the end of the current month, Dr Arbab would take steps to mitigate the complaints of Sheikh brothers but no headway in this regard had been noted till date.

The Sheikh group appeared keen to field Imtiaz Sheikh as the party’s provincial chief if there was no decision on keeping the offices of the party’s provincial president and chief minister together.

The sources said that the Sheikh, Jatoi and Mehar groups had decided to join hands and field a joint candidate against the nominees of Arbab group if there was no compromise with Dr Arbab.

The Jatoi group of Dadu, had refused to meet Mushahid at the Cm’s House. The group intends to field Sadaqat Ali Jatoi, a brother of the Federal Minister for Power Liaquat Ali Jatoi, for the post of the party’s provincial secretary general. He enjoys support from the Sheikh group.

Likewise, Mehar group has also serious differences with Arbab group over the party’s organisational matters and the policies being pursued in its area of influence. Its head, Sardar Ali Gohar, who is brother of ex-chief minister Sardar Ali Mohammad Mehar, wants Alim Adil Sheikh to be made secretary general to keep a balance in the party affairs.

Chaudhry Shujaat is scheduled to visit Karachi, following his return to Islamabad, where President Musharraf has reportedly scheduled a meeting with the provincial office-bearers of PML on Wednesday.