LAHORE, June 13: Leaders of about six factions of the Pakistan Muslim League are meeting here on Friday amid clear indications that the group led by Mian Azhar is now willing to go for “merger”, giving up its earlier stand that it is in favour of electoral adjustments with other groups without any change in the organizational structure of those desirous of joining hands.
“We will be discussing merger on Friday,” PML-QA secretary-general Gohar Ayub said while talking to Dawn on Thursday.
At the last meeting held in Lahore for the same objective, the former foreign minister had insisted that his party was for “unification”, which allowed every faction to retain its office-bearers. All other factions had refused to accept such a definition of “unification”, saying a unified party had one president and one manifesto.
The meeting will be held at the Gulberg office of Sardar Assef Ahmad Ali.
The PML-QA secretary-general on Thursday refused to elaborate his party’s stand on retaining the organizational structure of the party, saying the matter would be discussed at the negotiating table.
Mian Azhar and Shujaat Husain had said during the last couple of days that the PML-QA would prefer other factions to merge with their group, and those doing so would be given suitable offices in the organization. Both of them had said the PML-QA would retain its organizational structure as it had been elected in accordance with the constitution for a period of three years.
The PML (Functional), the PML (Jinnah), the PML (Chattha) and the PML (Qasim) will be other factions represented at the Friday meeting.
Functional Muslim League leader Shaikh Sirajuddin said on Thursday his party wanted a new president of the unified PML in accordance with the party constitution. All factions participating in the Friday meeting should nominate their representatives to form an ad hoc council which should elect the new party head, he said.
He said the formula he was giving clearly meant that no faction would be able to maintain its office-bearers. “We’ll have no objection even if the ad hoc council elects Mian Azhar as new president,” he said, adding he would have to step down first to have himself chosen afresh.
Shaikh Siraj said the unified PML would approach the PML-N to bring it in its fold. The PML-C has also the same point of view.
PML-J chief Manzoor Wattoo said his party wanted merger in accordance with a formula acceptable to all factions. Talking to Dawn, he said the unity of the PML was a noble cause for which all factions should be prepared to offer any sacrifice they were required to.
In his opinion, the PML-N should also be approached afresh. But, Mr Wattoo said Nawaz Sharif could not become president of the unified party as he was out of the country. Had he been at home, he could have been considered for the top office, the former chief minister said.
He proposed that all factions should set up a committee which should decide the issue of leadership. It should be left to the committee as to who should hold which office.
Mr Wattoo said the PML-QA was a major party which should be given due weight. In his opinion, unification proposals given by all factions should be comprehensively discussed at the Friday meeting.
Asked if his faction was willing to accept Mian Azhar as president of the unified party, Mr Wattoo said any proposal acceptable to other factions would be acceptable to his party. He made it clear that his party would not be a candidate for any office in the unified party.
The Council Muslim League has already assured that it would support any decision taken by the Functional Muslim League.
PML (Qasim) leader Saifullah Saif said his party wanted unity of the party in accordance with the ideals of the Quaid-i-Azam. He did not offer any specific formula.