LAHORE, March 21: The ruling PML will give various incentives to its workers to motivate them to give better results in the next general elections, on which will depend the political future of President Pervez Musharraf. Party sources said on Tuesday that constituencies of the national and provincial assemblies, which went to the opposition candidates in the 2002 elections, will receive special attention in the coming months and all efforts will be made to win hearts and minds of the opposition supporters.

For this purpose, development projects would be launched in such areas in consultation with the defeated candidates of the party, no matter what the reaction of the opposition MPs elected from there.

There are indications that an important announcement with respect to the party strategy for the 2007 elections will be made by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and PML President Shujaat Husain at the workers convention to be held on the Minar-i-Pakistan lawns on Thursday (March 23).

Sources said government jobs would be given preferably to people belonging to the ruling party and the policy would be followed till the completion of the electoral process.

It is being said that merit set for a particular job would not be violated, but the selection would be made from amongst people having links with or sympathy for the ruling PML.

A large number of people would be sent to other countries where they will get important jobs.

It is being claimed that some 300,000 skilled people would be sent to Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Korea and other countries. These people would be used to increase the ruling party’s vote bank in their respective constituencies.

The seven-point agenda given by President Musharraf after overthrowing the PML-N government in 1999 would be included in the party’s manifesto for the next elections.

President Musharraf will be able to get himself re-elected only if the PML wins the next elections.

The Senate, the National Assembly and the four provincial legislatures are the electoral college for the president.

Whether the existing assemblies can re-elect the general for another term before being dissolved, is a constitutional issue which is being examined by the relevant authorities.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi on Tuesday held discussions with legislators from Gujranwala, Nankana Sahib and Sheikhupura about the March 23 convention.

Talking to them, he said the convention would establish that the PML leadership alone was capable of running the country and strengthening it economically.