ISLAMABAD, Sept 5: A meeting of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML) failed on Monday to resolve a row in the party over nomination of candidates for district, tehsil and town nazims. The party leadership could not come up with a formula to resolve the differences and asked some groups to contest independently in the third phase of the local polls if they failed to forge accord.

The main items on the agenda were to review the party’s performance in the local council polls, resolve internal differences and discuss a plan to celebrate the centenary of the founding of the league.

The chief of the party, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, presided over the meeting which was also attended by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.

Chaudhry Shujaat told journalists that the meeting had decided to celebrate 2006 as the centenary year of the PML.

The leadership, he said, had reviewed the overall political situation and discussed the party’s performance in the two phases of local polls.

He said he had constituted a celebration committee to chalk out a programme for the centenary.

The party had decided to hold an international convention in Islamabad next year, in which leaders of political parties from all over the world would be invited, he said.

Meanwhile, party’s senior vice-president LT-Gen (retd) Majeed Malik, who has announced to contest for the seat of Chakwal district nazim against a party’s nominee, failed to win support of the party leadership.

Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has nominated Sardar Ghulam Abbas for the post.

In the meeting, Gen Malik pleaded his case citing his services for the party and loyalty to the Chaudhry. He said he had taken part in the local government elections under the impression that these were party-less polls. He said he was surprised to see that Chaudhry Pervaiz had nominated PML candidates for various posts. Insiders said that neither Chaudhary Shujaat nor Mr Aziz gave any assurance to Gen Malik, except that the final decision would be taken by consensus.

Party vice-president Shaukat Wasti supported Gen Malik. He said: “Let all other local government offices be filled according to the plan, but let us support him because of his services for the party.”

The meeting did not discuss the districts where more than one party group was vying for the top offices of local councils. However, it appealed to the leaders of the groups to close their ranks in the larger interest of the party and if it was not possible, they would be free to test their luck.

The party did not discuss the opposition’s call for a general strike on Sept 9.