KARACHI, Feb 7: Differences have cropped up in the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) over the proposed multi-party conference (MPC) as many in the party say that the central leadership is giving undue concessions to the Pakistan People’s Party.

Party sources privately acknowledged that the concessions being given to the PPP -- the delay in holding the MPC and the withdrawal of the PML-N candidate from the by-election in Karachi (NA 250) in favour of PPP candidate Nafees Ahmed Siddiqui – have disappointed PML-N leaders and workers not only in Sindh but at the centre also.

The sources said that a majority of the PML-N leaders and workers believed that the issue, created by the PPP, of hosting the MPC at the platform of the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD) was nothing but to provide the regime with a chance to divide the opposition parties.

They said all opposition parties were of a unanimous view that the General Pervez Musharraf-led government wanted to split the opposition and it was need of the hour to sit together and evolve a consensus strategy to deal with the regime. However, the PPP was creating one after another pretext to benefit the government.

"PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto is unwilling to attend the MPC but ready to meet Nawaz Sharif in London to settle the issue of hosting the meeting and its agenda. Is their any guarantee that she or her party will not set any other condition for attending the MPC?" asked a senior PML-N leader.

The sources claimed that Nawaz Sharif was trying to unite all opposition parties on a single platform to work for the restoration of genuine democracy, but it seemed that the PPP wanted to sabotage his sincere efforts.

Another issue, which is prompting fissures in the PML-N ranks, is the withdrawal of party candidate for the by-election on NA-250 in favour of the PPP candidate.

"Had we contested the by-poll the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal would have definitely withdrawn its candidate in our favour. But now the MMA is unwilling to withdraw its candidate in favour of the PPP and prefers to boycott the polling process," said a disgruntled party leader.

The sources, however, maintained that Nawaz Sharif was well-aware of the situation but did not want to pose a harsh stance towards the PPP, as he believed it would only benefit the government and spoil his efforts to unite the opposition parties, including the MMA.

They said Mr Sharif sent the party's central secretary general Iqbal Zafar Jhagra and Tehmina Daultana to Karachi for meeting not only the party leaders but to consult and take into confidence leaders of other opposition parties by re-inviting them to the MPC. Mr Jhagra met senior politicians Sardar Sher Baz Mazari, Mumtaz Bhutto, Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi, Rasool Bux Palejo and Dr Qadir Magsi and told them about the progress made so far in connection with the MPC.

The sources said that by inviting senior politicians to attend the MPC, Mr Sharif gave the message to the PPP that he was firm on convening the MPC at the platform of the PML-N.

RESIGNATION: PML-N Additional Secretary for Information Sardar Rahim took back his resignation on Wednesday. He had tendered his resignation from party position to PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif as a result of some internal differences.