September 19, 2008	Friday	Ramazan 18, 1429

LAHORE, Sept 18: The Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid-i-Azam) faces collapse if it does not immediately take side in the soon-to-unfold battle for supremacy in Punjab, say party insiders.

According to these members of the Q-League, the PML-N could be their natural choice as an ally. But they also believe that this should not happen without any give and take. Party legislator Chaudhry Ijaz Shafi thinks that the Nawaz League should drop its suffix and both the factions should unite. “The Nawaz League should not only guarantee us a due share in the party structure in Punjab but in the center as well,” he says.

For that to happen, he advises Nawaz Shairf to show political wisdom and avoid rigidity. But he also says there should not be any element of illegality in this process. For instance, he says, the people who have formed the

PML-Q forward bloc should be dealt with under the defection law because they have changed sides for their `petty interests’.

He says these ‘defectors’ are talking ill of the Chaudhrys in front of the Sharifs because they do not want the two leagues to unite. He, however, thinks that under the current circumstances the PPP is showing more flexibility towards his party than the PML-N, and is working towards a ‘workable formula’ with us. Shafi says the terms and conditions for an alliance will be worked out on the basis of the strength of their respective legislators.

“But we would want the PPP to give us the chief ministership in Punjab in return for our support,” he adds.

Another PML-Q legislator, Syed Raza Gillani says the Sharifs should accept the importance of the PML-Q without any prejudice but he rules out the merger of the two leagues. “We can lend support to the PML-N as an independent entity,” he says.