LAHORE, Aug 20 The PML-Q will not be part of any anti-Musharraf activity, despite the former dictator is ideologically moving away from the party, says newly-inducted information secretary Kamil Ali Agha.

At a press conference here on Thursday, Mr Agha claimed that though the party was now on a popular path - defining and pursuing its democratic agenda - it would still not be part of anti-Musharraf campaign.

“The party has after all worked with him for five years, and re-elected him as president. Courtesy demands the PML-Q avoids being part of his trial, even verbal,” he said.

About his party's defence of the local bodies' system, he said that the system had served the masses and must be kept intact at all costs. Confusion about local councils had led to worsening of law and order and price hike, he said. According to him, these institutions enjoy certain constitutional guarantees. These guarantees should not be tinkered with, and new elections must be arranged instead of imposing administrators. Talking about the breakaway faction of the party, which held its own elections on Thursday at the capital, Mr Agha branded the move as “un-constitutional”.

“How can the party general council formed in 2006 hold elections in 2009, especially in the presence of the general council of 2009?” he said.

Mr Agha insisted the 2009 general council was duly elected and met all constitutional and legal requirements.

He said the PML-Q had roots in the masses, and such splinter groups would simply melt away with the passage of time. The party leadership had done all to keep the party intact, but the breakaway group was simply not ready to work with the party framework. “They have separated themselves, thus there is no need to sack them either. They will not be invited to the next party meetings,” he said.