ISLAMABAD Feb 19: Leaders of six parties (five PML factions and the Sindh Democratic Alliance) met here on Thursday and decided that all the league factions would separately apply to the Election Commission of Pakistan seeking removal of suffixes that each one carries and request for registration of a single party by the name of Pakistan Muslim league.

Earlier, the organising committee of the unified league had decided that the Election Commission would be requested by all the factions to register the new party with single name but none other but Pakistan Muslim League-Q went to the EC. As a result, the said request was turned down on technical grounds by the election commission.

After today's meeting at the residence of MNA Ijazul Haq, and chaired by the president of unified league Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, party's secretary information senator Tariq Azeem told Dawn that, in fact, the unification of six parties, including the SDA had been completed at the meeting.

Participants of the meeting included, Hamid Nasir Chattha of PML (Junejo), Manzoor Wattoo PML (Jinnah), Sultan Mohammad Khan PML (F), Imtiaz Shaikh SDA, Anwar Saeed, Sheikh Siraj, Senator Nisar Memon, Senator Tariq Azeem and Salim Saifullah Khan.

The meeting decided to appoint a six-member budget committee to be headed by PML(Q) secretary-general Salim Saifullah Khan to advise the ministry of finance on budget-making after soliciting public opinion.

Another meeting would be held in Lahore on Sunday to decide about holding of general councils either by every faction or collectively, Tariq Azeem said. An earlier proposal of merger of these Pakistan Muslim League factions with PML (Q) was rejected by smaller factions, the most forceful opposition voice being that of PML(F).

Smaller groups demanded their due share in party offices and also a share in power. Chaudhry Shujaat is believed to have consulted the matter with "higher authorities" and finalised a formula for accommodating all factional leaders/MPs in the government.

According to the formula, it had been decided that Hamid Nasir Chattha would be made chairman of the Kashmir committee, Ijazul Haq be given a cabinet post, most probably that of labour, manpower and overseas Pakistanis (which had fallen vacant after the demise of Abdus Sattar Laleka), Senator Justice Razzaq Thaheem, minister of state for law and parliamentary affairs and a woman MNA belonging to the PML (J) would also be accommodated in the cabinet.

Besides, the unified league has empowered Chaudhry Shujaat to appoint office-bearers from all factions till the constitution of the general council and the central working committee.