ISLAMABAD, July 2: Pakistan Muslim League Forward Bloc in NWFP on Sunday demanded of the party’s central leadership to elect the party’s head in the province through the provincial council.

Mr Aulas Khan Khalil, head of the forward bloc, at a press conference expressed no-confidence in the present NWFP party chief Mr Amir Muqam, federal minister for political affairs, saying Mr Muqam’s elevation to the office of provincial chief was wrong and in violation of the party constitution. “He wasn’t even the basic member of the party,” he said.

Explaining the reason for setting up of forward bloc in the party, he said Mr Muqam had been ignoring the party workers and leaders eversince his elevation, which had led to frustration in the party ranks and there was every likelihood that some of these workers and leaders might have moved to other political parties. However, with the setting up of the forward bloc this possibility has been foiled.

He said the forward bloc would talk to the party’s central leadership, but wouldn’t compromise on the issue of change of provincial president. He said the provincial president should only be elected by the party’s provincial council.

Mr Khalil said six PML MPAs in the NWFP have joined the forward bloc, but he did not name them.

In case of failure of dialogue with the central leadership, he said, the forward bloc would be constrained to nominate its office bearers even at the district level in NWFP.