ISLAMABAD, Aug 29: Five MNAs belonging to the Pakistan People's Party (Patriots) on Sunday met Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz without their seniors indicating a difference of opinion within the party over the issue of representation in the cabinet.
It is learnt that the group, led by Major (retd) Tanveer Hussain Syed, asked the prime minister to appoint young ministers from the party on the basis of merit and performance.
Those who called on the prime minister with Major Tanveer were MNA from Mianwali Dr Sher Afgan Khan Niazi, Azhar Ahmed Khan Yousufzai from Vehari, Pir Mohammad Aslam Bodla from Khanewal and Syed Asad Murtaza Gillani from Multan.
Sources said the MNAs had grievances against former interior minister Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat and former minister for petroleum and natural resources Chaudhry Nourez Shakoor.
The sources said that soon after the meeting with the prime minister, the group went straight to the residence of the party president and former minister, Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao, to attend a party meeting. Senior party leaders including Faisal Saleh Hayat, Rao Sikandar Iqbal, Raza Hayat Hiraj, and Chaudhry Nourez Shakoor were also present in the meeting.
Major Tanveer, however told Dawn claimed there was no grouping in the party and they were all united. About his separate meeting with the prime minister, he said the party leaders had earlier met Mr Aziz and there was no restriction on them. He said they had gone there to felicitate Mr Aziz on his election as the prime minister.
Replying to a question, Major Tanveer said they had asked the prime minister to appoint ministers "this time" keeping in view merit and performance and not the number of seats.
When asked about the performance of previous ministers belonging to the party, he said: "There are talks about only interior ministry." Then he said: "Faisal performed all right, keeping in view the powers and resources he was given."
When asked specifically about the performance of Chaudhry Nourez Shakoor as the petroleum minister, he said: "It was so-so and average." He said he expected a lot of changes in the new cabinet. Mr Tanveer praised the leadership of Mr Sherpao, saying the party had got a new life with the inclusion of Mr Sherpao in it.