Jhagra to take up Saad

Published April 1, 2005
ISLAMABAD, March 31: Secretary-General of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Iqbal Zafar Jhagra has said he has received the reply of the show-cause notice issued to the MNA from Lahore, Khawaja Saad Rafiq, for allegedly violating party discipline and will take appropriate decision after discussing it with senior party leaders. Talking to Dawn on Thursday, the PML-N secretary-general said Mr Rafiq had sent the written reply directly to party chief, Nawaz Sharif, who forwarded it to him (Mr Jhagra) on March 24.

Mr Jhagra said he had been asked by Mr Sharif to ?take appropriate steps? after reading the reply. He said he had already gone through the reply. He expressed the hope that the matter would be resolved amicably within the party. He refused to answer to a question whether he was satisfied with Mr Rafiq?s reply or not.

The PML-N secretary-general said the MNA had sought prior permission from him (Mr Jhagra) for sending the reply directly to Nawaz Sharif. He said it did not matter as to where the MNA had sent the reply as any decision on the issue would be taken after mutual consultation and only with the approval of Mr Sharif. It may be mentioned that Khawaja Saad Rafiq was issued show- cause notice on March 7 on charges of ?damaging the party?s image? by issuing statements against the party?s central leadership and interfering in the party?s reorganizational matters.

Mr Rafiq was issued a final show-cause notice on March 18 when he failed to respond to the first one. In the final notice, Mr Rafiq was given the deadline of March 25 to submit the reply. At that time, Mr Rafiq had stated that he had already informed Nawaz Sharif in writing about his viewpoint and he did not feel it necessary to submit reply to any other person.

Mr Rafiq was issued the notice when he levelled allegations against the party?s acting parliamentary leader in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and Chief Organizer of the PML-N Punjab Sardar Zulfiqar Khosa, accusing them of working against the party?s interests.

The MNA had alleged that Chaudhry Nisar was not in favour of launching a resistance movement against the military rulers and wanted to have reconciliation with them. He had accused the present local leadership of making efforts to push back hardliners and impose those people who had done nothing for the party in the last five years when it was in deep trouble. The acting PML-N parliamentary leader had accused Mr Rafiq of making the party a laughing stock before the people by taking its internal matters to the public.

He had also categorically rejected the charges that he was in favour of reconciliation, saying the party was determined to eliminate dictatorship from the country and there was a very clear party guideline and policy in this regard.

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