ISLAMABAD: Rejecting as baseless reports about differences within the PML-N, a veteran leader of the party said on Friday that neither anybody would quit it nor a forward bloc would come into being.

Talking to reporters here, Senator Mushahidullah Khan said some elements frustrated by the outcome of their sit-ins were unleashing propaganda about differences in the PML-N.

He said having personal opinions must not be misconstrued or wrongly portrayed.

He said all workers, leaders and parliamentarians belonging to PML-N had complete confidence in the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.

He said those churning out rumours would have to face humiliation this time as well as they would fail to gain anything out of it. He said opposing a decision while remaining within the party did not amount to treachery and difference of opinion helped reach better decisions.

He said all matters in the party were decided with mutual consultation and consensus. “If a member of the party has a difference of opinion with good intentions, the issue will be addressed in an appropriate manner,” he said.

The statement came amid reports that former chief minister of Punjab Sardar Dost Muhammad Khosa had become active to form a forward bloc of the party in the province.

The reports suggested that many MNAs and MPAs were expected to join the bloc to be headed by Senator Sardar Zulfikar Ali Khosa, father of Dost Muhammad.

Talking to a TV channel, Dost Muhammad said many party leaders, including lawmakers, were in contact with him. He said the old guard and ideological workers of the party had been neglected by its leaders and former military ruler retired Gen Pervez Musharraf’s cronies were around the leadership.

He said PML-N MNAs and MPAs were not happy with the policies being pursued by the leaders. Similar views have also been expressed by Sardar Zulfikar on the media. He has also criticised the party’s leaders for ‘importing a governor’ for the province.

Published in Dawn, November 1st, 2014