GILGIT, Aug 29: The ruling Pakistan Muslim League will start a broad-based political process in the Northern Areas to rid the region of sectarian politics.

Talking to this correspondent, the PML parliamentary board members for the Northern Areas Legislative Council elections, Sardar Yusuf, Iqbal Dar and Fauzia Salim Abbas, said they had held negotiations with different political parties in Gilgit to start a new phase of political activity that would be directed towards modern Pakistan.

"We have held meetings with women groups. Their demand for increased women seats in NALC is genuine and worth considering," Ms Abbas said. In reply to a question, Mr Dar said they had come to Gilgit to reorganize the party and select candidates for the upcoming NALC elections.

Referring to the constitutional status of the region, the PML leaders said they believed that constitutional 'deprivation' and other problems of the area would gradually be sorted out. "During the past decade the policies of successive governments have made a lot of difference. The status quo is being dismantled, albeit gradually," they said.