LAHORE, Feb 22: Five factions of the Pakistan Muslim League and the Sindh Democratic Alliance decided on Sunday to unify in a manner suggested by Senator S.M. Zafar, former law minister. The decision was taken at a meeting held under the chairmanship of Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain at the residence of former chief minister Mian Manzoor Wattoo.

Only representatives of the PML (Functional group) had reservations about adopting the PML-Q Constitution and enhancing the council membership to 1,500 but leaders of the remaining parties were not willing about reopening what they call the settled issues.

Now, the PML-F leaders would talk to their party president Pir Pagara to seek his approval in this regard. Sources said it was agreed that offices of the unified party would be given to the most capable people, irrespective of the group they belong to. They would be elected by the council in a manner provided in the constitution.

The next meeting would be held in Islamabad on March 4. Those, who participated in the Sunday meeting were, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, S.M. Zafar, Hamid Nasir Chattha, Ejazul Haq, Sultan Mahmood, Imtiaz Sheikh, Kamil Ali Agha, Kanwar Qutbuddin, Iqbal Dar, Saeed Ahmed Khan Manais, Tariq Azeem, Sheikh Anwar Saeed, Malik Haider Usman, Sardar Salim Jan Mazari and Rana Nazir Ahmed.

It was agreed that organizing bodies would be set up in the provinces which would prepare recommendations and submit their report to Chaudhry Shujaat. According to a press release, the Punjab organizing committee would comprise Kamil Ali Agha, Arshad Khan Lodhi, Sheikh Anwar Saeed, Badruzzaman Virk, Amjad Waraich, Khalid Amin, Chaudhry Ghulam Murtaza, Dr Anwarul Haq, Chaudhry Arshad and Mian Andul Waheed.

The Sindh committee's members are: Nisar A. Memon, Maqbool Sheikh, Kanwar Arshad, Mir Mohammad Khokhar, Alhaj Shamimuddin, Pir Sadruddin, Kanwar Taufeeq Ahmed, Shahid Hasan Mangi, Sheikh Mohammad Nasir, Shafqat Kamalani and Amanullah Piracha.

Members of the NWFP organizing committee are: Agha faiz Ali Shah, Lala Nisar, Mushataq Ghani, Haji Owais Khan, Gul Khan Jadoon, Intikhab Alim Khan, Ehsanullah, Manzoorul Haq Qureshi, Prince Mohammad Yousaf, Mian Akhtar Shafi and Iftikhar Ahmed.

The committee set up for Balochistan comprises Senator Naseerullah Mengal, Saeed Hashmi, Zarak Zehri, Mir Ahmed Shah Lehri, Sardar Saifullah, Sardar Abdul Mannan Khilji, Syed Taj Mohammad Shah, Abdus Salam Durrani and Javed Ahmed. Rana Nazir Ahmed has been appointed coordinator for these committees.