LAHORE, Nov 9: The ruling PML celebrated the birth anniversary of Allama Iqbal, pledging to mould the country according to the ideals of the poet-philosopher.

At a special ceremony organized at the Muslim League House, the speakers said President Musharraf, PML chief Chaudhry Shujaat Husain and Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi were committed to making Pakistan a model progressive state where Islamic values were held supreme.

Chaudhry Zaheeruddin, a minister who is also provincial secretary-general of the party, presided over the ceremony, addressed by Mian Abdus Sattar, Chaudhry Muhammad Siddique, Mehnaz Rafi and Shahana Farooqi.

The speakers said Muslims of the subcontinent could get a separate homeland because of the idea of the great poet. They said the PML would give all such leaders who had worked for the welfare of Muslims their due respect.

They said President Musharraf was working exactly according to the thinking of Allama Iqbal.

MINORITIES WING: The PML secretary-general held a meeting with the party's minorities wing on Tuesday and assured its leaders that the government was working to protect the rights of minorities.

He said the minority representatives were being given important positions in the party. At the national level, he said, minorities had already been given two-vote right.

Pervaiz Michael, Ashfaq Bhatty, Waseem Chaudhry and Zaheer Babar were among the delegation members.