August 02, 2007	Thursday	Rajab 17, 1428

ISLAMABAD, Aug 1: Efforts have been set in motion to carve out a new party from the ruling Pakistan Muslim League to stem what appears to be a tide disgruntled leaders and legislators leaving the party.

Former prime minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali, who recently left the PML in protest, is the man behind the move. The new party will be named Muttahida Muslim League.

Talking to Dawn on Wednesday, Mr Jamali said he was in touch with a number of old guards who were not satisfied with the working of the PML leadership.

He said the group would allot tickets to dissatisfied Leaguers who were reluctant to join any other party and would never join the PPP.

Mr Jamali said several leaders would join the new party at an appropriate time.

Former Punjab chief minister Manzoor Wattoo had a meeting with Mr Jamali on Wednesday and they discussed various aspects of the move.

Mr Jamali in his recent meetings with President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz had made it clear he was not interested in switching sides with the rival League groups and instead would form his own group.

Some insiders told Dawn that an effort had been made recently by Leaguers close to President Musharraf to unite the various factions. A number of PML office-bearers and MPs have started openly expressing reservations against President Musharraf’s contacts with Benazir Bhutto without having taken the party leadership into confidence.

They said that efforts were also made by a top PML leader to contact Nawaz Sharif and this was brought to the knowledge of General Musharraf by intelligence agencies.—Staff Reporter