LAHORE, May 10: The ruling PML will defeat the no-confidence motion the opposition plans to bring against the Punjab Assembly speaker, party’s provincial secretary-general says. Chaudhry Zaheeruddin said at a news conference here on Tuesday that even opposition legislators would not vote for the motion and as a result, the movers would stand exposed.

The PML leader said the opposition had the constitutional right to go for such a step. However, he made it clear that there was no chance of the motion getting through.

He said the ruling party was growing in strength and no party would be able to face it in the local elections. During a recent visit to various cities, he said, he had assessed that the PML faced no challenge anywhere in the Punjab.

He claimed that the party would sweep the elections with the support of the electorate.

Asked about President Musharraf’s contacts with the PPP, the PML leader said the party supported the policy of the general. He said if any party or individual, recognizing Gen Musharraf as the supreme leader, supported the PML policies, the ruling party would have no hesitation in admitting it to its fold.

Responding to a question, he said no changes in the party were on the cards. He also disagreed with former secretary-general Salim Saifullah’s assertion that Chaudhry Shujaat Husain was involved in ‘drawing room politics.’

Mr Zaheeruddin announced the formation of a media committee, which would explain party’s point of view on various issues.

Amir Malik, Chaudhry Muhammad Siddique, Begum Mehnaz Rafi, Dr Nabila Tariq, Aslam Zar, Jehangir Ashraf Vance and Misbah Kaukab are the committee members.