LAHORE, Nov 1: The Pakistan Muslim League (QA) has withdrawn its demand for the formation of a national government after a party delegation’s meeting with President Pervez Musharraf a few days ago.

The party’s Punjab President Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, who was one of the five members of the party office-bearers which met the head of state, told Dawn here on Thursday that the PML(QA) was quite satisfied with Gen Musharraf’s argument why there was no need for a multi-party government.

The party initially did not agree with leaders who had been demanding a national government to ensure free and fair elections. However, it changed its point of view after the Oct 7 US attacks on Afghanistan.

A central leader had said at a news conference that the attacks had changed the situation and now the country needed a collective leadership instead of leaving all decisions to an individual or an institution.

Justifying the party’s return to its original position, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi said political parties always changed their contentions according to the objective conditions. He said the party might again change its point of view in case the circumstances so necessitated.

President Musharraf has told the PML(QA) leaders in plain terms that the general elections would be held under the supervision of the present government and there was no possibility of any new set-up.

Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi said that the PML leaders had urged the president to increase the number of assembly seats both at the provincial and national levels in accordance with the latest census.

He said the president had assured the delegation that the government would look into the matter.

He said convinced that the government would hold elections in October next year, the PML(QA) had issued instructions to party leaders at all tiers to make preparations for the polls.

The PML(QA) Leader said now the party would reorganise itself and at the same time make preparations for elections.