ISLAMABAD, Feb 13: Pakistan People’s Party (Patriots) MNA Maj (retired) Tanveer Hussain on Tuesday announced that he was quitting the Rao-led PPP faction and joining the ruling Pakistan Muslim League.

“There were 18 MNAs in the Patriots and now one third of then have joined us and more may follow suit,” said PML secretary general Mushahid Hussain when asked how many of them had joined the ruling party. “They are free in making their decisions and whenever they decide they will be welcomed,” he added.

Mr Tanveer Hussain, who is also parliamentary secretary for defence, made the announcement in the presence of ruling PML president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Mushahid Hussain and MNA Chaudhry Wajahat Hussain at the PML House.

It is presumed that eventually all legislators of Punjab chapter of the Patriot would switch over to the PML by disbanding the faction, while the Sherpao faction would continue to maintain its existence in the NWFP.

Senior federal minister and PPP (Patriots) chairman Rao Sikandar Iqbal along with some senior leaders, including Faisal Saleh Hayat, Raza Hayat Hirraj, Noraiz Shakoor and Dr Sher Afgan Khan Niazi, are likely to meet President Gen Pervez Musharraf and make a similar announcement in his presence, sources said.

When asked if desertions from the PPP Patriots meant the chapter of the PPP-government deal was over, Chaudhry Shujaat said: “Talks of such deal are things of the past. Now let us move forward. We will be contesting elections against this party (PPP) as a major opponent.”

The PML chief was non committal when asked if his party had decided to give Muttahida Qaumi Movement some seats in the next elections.

About rejoining the party by Mian Azhar, the PML president said: “He has decided to activate himself in the party while seeking no party office.”