GILGIT, Oct 15: The Pakistan Muslim League is in a position to form government in the Northern Areas after seven independent candidates announced to join the party.

The PML had secured seven seats in the elections for the Northern Areas Legislative Council that were held on Oct 12. The candidates, who moved to join the PML before the official results were notified, announced their intention to join the PML in a press conference late Friday.

They are: Abdul Hameed, formerly belonging to the PPP, Malik Miskeem, Haji Abdul Quddus, Haider Khan, Muzaffar Rallay, former chairman of the Karakoram National Movement (all from Diamer), Wazir Walayat Ali (Skardu) and Muhammad Iqbal (Ghanche).

They said that they had been impressed by the pace of development in the region and they wanted to accelerate the process by joining the party. PML's chief organizer Senator Nisar Memon, who arranged the press conference said: "This is a historic day for PML in the Northern Areas as it managed to get the support of seven independent candidates by dint of political process they initiated immediately after the elections."

Mr Memon said that it was the duty of the NALC members and the people to struggle for their rights without jeopardizing the national interests. He said that they were in touch with other independent candidates, adding that they would soon begin to approach them.

He said that the posts of the party's coordinators, including election coordinators, would stand dissolved and the PML would be reorganized in the region under a chief organizer, district organizers and women organizers.