KARACHI, Aug 12: Pakistan Muslim League-Functional has announced that election for the party’s central leadership will be held on Aug 18 when its central council meets at the Kingri House.

PML-F chief organiser Kanwar Qutbuddin told a press conference here on Sunday that the reorganisation of the party in all the four provinces had already been completed.

Urging all patriotic citizens to forge unity in their file and ranks and make joint efforts towards dragging the country out of the prevailing crises, he suggested that President Gen Pervez Musharraf should hold a round-table conference of all political leaders to evolve a consensus strategy for the purpose.

He said Gen Musharraf’s uniform should not be made an issue, arguing that the politicians who had supported the moves allowing him to remain president in uniform were now asking him to shed the uniform.

The PML-F leader also called for due status to be given to the media, saying it was the fourth pillar of state and must play its due role.

He was of the view that the media and the other three pillars of the state should work with complete understanding in view of the internal and external threats to the country’s integrity, solidarity and sovereignty.

Suggesting measures to contain religious extremism, he said Arabic language should be promoted and taught up to matric level so that people could understand teachings and spirit of Islam by themselves and could not be misled by wrong interpretations.