KARACHI, May 29: Many of the middle tier office-bearers of Pakistan People's Party would not be able to attend the party's important meeting , summoned by Ms Benazir Bhutto in London from June 2 to 17, for discussing organisational matters and to work out a strategy after the government recognised MMA as its opposition by ignoring the ARD.

According to party sources, most workers, who were first time applicants did not meet the time frame required by the British High Commission to process visa applications, senior PPP sources said on Saturday.

Most of the district-level office-bearers, who were supposed to give their presentation on the party's shortcomings and failings in the province's recent by-polls, were likely to be affected, they said.

Some senior members of the party would also be compelled to review their programme in view of the budget session of the National Assembly, summoned on June 5, but might be rescheduled due to lack of consensus on the NFC.

In view of the federal budget, the London meeting of the party's central executive committee and the federal council was also expected to hammer out a strategy for Ms Bhutto's possible return despite apprehensions of being arrested on arrival, sources said.

Ms Bhutto had directed the CEC and federal council members to come prepared with at least three names of possible candidates for national and provincial assembly seats as well as local government constituencies. This was done in view of the mounting criticism from the rank and file of the party.

The party chairperson had also asked for names ofdistrict and other level office-bearers, who needed to be replaced for their alleged failure in following party line and discipline.

According to sources, office bearers who were not active in their respective areas were likely to be replaced by the active cadre, as the leadership was apprehending early polls.

The central executive and federal council meetings would also review the situation arising out of the recent defections and internal contradictions that had emerged during the recent by-elections, and support to a government party candidate ininterior Sindh and in Karachi, which the party sources said, had irked PPP Parliamentarians' chief Makhdoom Amin Fahim.

Makhdoom Amin Fahim was not happy over the situation because not only was the decision taken without taking him into confidence, but at the same time the party pulled out of contest in support of a government nominee to defeat a candidate who enjoyed support the Sarwari Jamaat, of which he was the spiritual head.

In this context, the London meeting was also expected to review the role of the party's top leadership in the by-polls in Sanghar, Khairpur and Lyari.

Sources also said that Makhdoom Amin Fahim might now press for a change in the provincial leadership of the party.

The PPP central committee and federal council members, senators, MNAs, MPAs, ticket-holders and even district presidents were also expected to discuss the fall out of the Indian elections.

About two months back when Ms Bhutto had called the top leadership to London, it was decided that another meeting would be held in August or September, but Ms Bhutto had now summoned even the district-level leadership, which some insiders believed was aimed at the party's mobilisation prior to her return.