September 18, 2008	Thursday	Ramazan 17, 1429

LAHORE, Sept 17: In a show of strength, both PML-N and PML-Q hosted Iftar-dinners for members of the former ruling party’s ‘forward bloc’ and both sides claimed most of them were on their side.

Talking to the media, PML-Q leader Pervaiz Elahi claimed to have entertained 62 legislators. The PML-Q has 83 parliamentarians. He refused to give their names.

Meanwhile, Capt (retd) Mohammad Safdar of the PML-N, who hosted a dinner at the Raiwind Farm, claimed to have hosted 33 members of the PML-Q’s forward bloc.

Neither side invited the media nor did they allow journalists, who had reached the places anyway, to mix with their guests.

Capt Safdar let the media in after some time.

Pervaiz Elahi told the media that only 21 ‘forward bloc’ members had been ‘missing’ and even they would return in a few days to the party fold.

“The party will soon reclaim its … full numerical strength,” he said. He refused to make a distinction between die-hard party members and the ‘forward bloc’, saying that they all belonged to the PML-Q and should be treated as such.

He was accompanied by Najaf Sial, the man who had ‘created’ the ‘forward bloc’, and two other lawmakers who also had apparently returned to the party’s fold.

Mr Elahi claimed: “It is like homecoming for them … and party members … who are still on the other side … would also be welcomed back.”

Accusing the PML-N of horse-trading, Mr Elahi said if it wanted its mandate to be respected, it should respect others’ popular backing.

“Till last week, the party had only 36 members,” Raja Basharat told Dawn.

“In only a week, the number has grown to 62. It is by no means a small success. Others will also return as the lure of incentives fades away and administrative pressure eases on them. Two of the party members are abroad and will formally rejoin the party on their return,” he said.

Najaf Sial said his group would help “install a PPP government in Punjab”.

“We have returned to work as a bridge between PML-Q and PPP. The PPP will soon form its government in the province,” he said.

His claim was, however, contradicted by Pervaiz Elahi, who ruled out an alliance with PPP, for now.

He said that the PML-Q would first consolidate its position and then talk to other parties as an “integrated unit”.

A private TV channel showed 31 members of PML-Q attending the Raiwind dinner.

According to the PML-N, three ‘forward bloc’ members had expressed inability to attend the dinner for various reasons.

Refusing to term it a show of strength, adviser to the CM on information Pervaiz Rashid said it was not even a party event.

“Nawaz Sharif is out of the country and Shahbaz Sharif did not attend despite being in the city because he had some meetings at his office.

“The party does not need any show of strength.”

According to him, it had bagged 201 votes in the Punjab Assembly in the presidential election. “Why it would need to show numerical strength again?”

He said that Capt Safdar had invited a “few of his friends for iftar … some of whom belonged to the PML-Q. Their appearance at the dinner is being wrongly interpreted”.