KARACHI, May 3: Chief of the Pakistan Muslim League-Functional Pir Pagara has repeated his call for the unification of all PML factions in accordance with the party’s constitution.

Terming the future of a unified PML ‘bright’ he again advised President Gen Pervez Musharraf to lead the party as per the tradition set by the Quaid-i-Azam, who had transferred his Muslim League’s leadership, after becoming governor general, to the then prime minister, Liaquat Ali Khan, for the latter’s being the ‘chief executive’ of the government.

Pir Pagara, who is also spiritual leader of the Hur Jamaat, was addressing a press conference at the Kingri House here on Wednesday where a former premier, Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali, was also present. Mr Jamali had earlier called on Pir Pagara.

Responding to newsmen’s questions, Pir Pagara said that under the PML constitution did not provide for the setting up of an executive council for the party, though it allowed formation of a working council.

He said he had already sent his proposal to President Musharraf for his consent.

He recalled that in 2003, he had made an attempt to unify all PML factions, but Mian Nawaz Sharif, who was ready to merge his faction with the mainstream PML, had some reservations about Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain. Pir Pagara said he did not know about Nawaz Sharif’s views now if a fresh attempt was made towards the PML unification.

In reply to a question, he said that “the future of Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto is bleak as both of them are dishonest and violators of their commitments. They break their promises soon after leaving a meeting room where they make commitments.”

Regarding possibility upcoming general elections to be free and fair, Pir Pagara said: “There will be selection, not election, as the PML-Q is the product of rigging.”

Replying to another question, he said he could not lead (a unified) PML as he was not the chief executive. In the past, he maintained, he had led the party because it was the period of confrontation. But now it is the time of reconstruction and, as such, he did not consider himself suitable for the top party slot.

Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali told journalists that he had exchanged views with Pir Pagara on the political situation prevailing in the country, and also sought his guidance because party election was due on May 12, 2006, when Chaudhry Shujaat’s two-year term would be over.