LAHORE, Aug 29: PML (Functional) President Pir Pagara on Sunday demanded 'reorganization' of the ruling party to pave the way for his faction to merge with it. "The unwanted elements in the party should be thrown out. These elements contribute nothing and are there only for personal gains," he said while talking to Dawn.

His party has already submitted its accounts to the Election Commission, meeting a legal requirement to maintain its separate identity. Joint Secretary Aziz Zafar Azad met the formality along with some other party officials.

Pir Pagara said reorganization could be carried out by those who were ultimately to head the party. "If the demand is not met, the PML-Functional will stay away from the ruling PML", he said.

Asked what if President Musharraf takes over the party, the PML-F chief said: For the time being the question was of party's reorganization. The PML-F had first merged itself with the PML, but shortly thereafter it raised objections to Chaudhry Shujaat's leadership. The party filed a petition with the Election Commission seeking permission to maintain its separate identity.