LAHORE, July 5 The Chaudhrys of Gujrat on Sunday refused to entertain the demands of the PML-Q dissidents and conveyed them a strong message in this regard. The dissidents, on the other hand, announced boycott of the party elections on July 8.

Better known as the like-minded, the group hints at formation of a new PML faction in case no consensus is reached between them. It claims having support of a majority of senior leaders of the PML-Q and is insisting Shujaat Husain and Pervaiz Elahi to step down as party central and provincial presidents, respectively, while calling for holding the elections through the general council of 2006.

The Chaudhrys, who reportedly see former president Gen Pervez Musharraf (retired) behind the move, are not willing to give in to the dissidents' de

mands which they call “undemocratic and unjustified”.

“We have no desire to bring them back. Rather we are happy that a group of disgruntled elements in our party is bidding farewell on its own. It will rather strengthen the party,” a PML-Q leader who is close to the Chaudhrys told Dawn.

“Why at the time of party elections Salim Saifullah and Humayun Akhtar have suddenly realised that the present general council is not authorised to elect central councillors and provincial presidents,” he wondered while claiming that even if the 2006 general council is restored, the dissidents would still not take part in the election process.

He claimed that the new group only comprised Salim Saifullah, Humayun Akhtar, Khurshid Kasuri, Hamid Nasir Chattha, Kashmala Tariq and Riaz Fatyana. “The dissidents are going to form a new faction - Pakistan Muslim League-Musharraf (PML-M),” he disclosed.

Former senator Kamil Ali Agha, whom the PML-Q has appointed election commissioner, said the elections would be held according to the schedule. “If anyone has any objection, he or she should come to me,” he said.

“In the first phase provincial presidents and 1,661 members of the general council will be elected on July 8. During the second phase the president of the party will be elected by the central council before Aug 12,” Mr Agha said and clarified that there was no bar on anyone to contest the election.

He said the emergence of the like-minded group in the party would have no impact on the election process.

Salim Saifullah and Humayun Akhtar had on Saturday declared war against Shujaat Husain with a pledge to not allow him to get re-elected as party head for the third time.

“We will boycott the party elections as the present general council has no legal grounds to elect the central councillors and provincial presidents,” Mr Akhtar told this reporter.

“It is now up to Chaudhry Sahib to keep the party intact and united,” he said, adding that the Chaudhrys should now step down and given a chance to someone from the smaller province.

“Chaudhry Shujaat Husain should also accept the failure of the party in the Feb 18 general election (2008) and its role in paving the way for imposition of the governor's rule in Punjab,” he said. He alleged that the party decisions were being taken unilaterally.

Mr Akhtar did not rule out formation of new faction of PML, but made it clear that it would not be PML-M. “Gen Musharraf has nothing to do with our going against the Chaudhrys.” He said a good number of senior PML-Q leaders were with him and everyone knew about them.

Meanwhile, Pervaiz Elahi held a meeting with the party leaders at his Gulberg residence and discussed strategy to deal with the dissidents' move. Ejazul Haq and Maqbool Shaikh also attended the meeting. Interestingly, the dissident group claims that both the leaders are with them.