LAHORE, Sept 22: The already fragmented Tehrik-i-Istiqlal has been divided further because of what dissidents say deviation of its leaders from the 30-year-long party policy.

According to a press release issued by acting information secretary Khalid Musa, party workers met at a rolling mill in Gulberg on Sunday and decided to part ways with senior leaders Air Marshal Asghar Khan, Rehmat Khan Vardag and Malik Hamid Sarfraz.

They decided to support the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal in the October polls for they realized that the political alliance of religious parties could deliver.

They formed a three-man presidential council comprising Jan Muhammad Tahir, Tehsin Haider Kazmi and Mirza Izzat Beg to elect party president under its constitution and run the Tehrik according to its original manifesto, the release said. —Staff Reporter