ISLAMABAD, Nov 30: The leadership of Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid-i-Azam) has decided to make Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain party president by replacing Mian Mohammad Azhar from the post, which may lead to split in the party.

The sources close to the party leadership have disclosed that the conflicts among the leaders have widened on various issues including the appointment of information secretary, formation of government with the help of forward bloc, defeat of Mian Azhar in polls, nomination of Mir Zafarullah Jamali as premier, formation of cabinet, duel role of administration during the polls and financial assistance of opposite candidates during the elections.

The sources said that president PML-Q Mian Azhar is holding Chaudhry brothers responsible for his defeat in the polls and all other issue confronting the party at this crucial stage.

At the Lahore meeting, Mian Azhar also alleged that by using all financial, political and administrative influence Chaudhry brothers played vital role in the defeat of various PML-Q candidates including him.

The sources said that the cold war between Mian Azhar and Chaudhry Shujaat became faster when Begum Abida Hussain resigned from the post of secretary information.

Chaudhry was in favour of Azeem Chaudhry. On the other hand Mian Azhar issued the notification of Anwarul Haq Ramay. Chaudhry brothers protested over this posting and a campaign was launched against Ramay in newspapers by Azeem Chaudhry and joint secretary PML-Q Yahya Munawar Shah.

On this the supporters of Anwarul Haq Ramay beat Yahya Munawar Shah in the PML House and two out of the Ramay supporters, Farooq Mughal and Tariq Mehmood, were arrested and sent to Adiala Jail on judicial remand. Azeem Chaudhry and his supporters imposed a ban on the entry of Ramay in the PML House.

Another cause of differences is that Mian Azhar when invited his supporters, with the help of whom he occupied the PML House two years back, the doors of the PML House were closed by Azeem Chaudhry and

Yahya Munawar. Later the supporters of Mian Azhar broke the locks and entered the PML House.

It was learnt from the sources close to the PML leadership that for the formation of government the PML leaders held dialogue with the PPP leaders, but party president was not consulted during this.

Mian Azhar in his statement categorically stated that the PML-Q will not form government with the help of any forward bloc of the PPP. Chaudhry brothers expressed their anger over this statement of Mian Azhar and asked him to clear his position over this statement.

Chaudhry Shujaat after feeling the gravity of the situation held a meeting with President Gen Musharraf and informed him about the latest developments and stressed for the nomination of a candidate for premiership and out of three names presented by Chaudhry Shujaat president accepted Mir Zafarullah Jamali.

Soon after Chaudhry Shujaat announced the nomination of Jamali, Mian Azhar strongly rejected it.