LAHORE, Dec 2: Pir Syed Mahfooz Shah Mushhadi says his faction of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) has cancelled the basic membership of MNA Sahibzada Fazal Karim and Haji Hanif Tayyab for entering into an electoral alliance with the Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q), says a press release.

The Karim-led SIC called the Mushhadi faction worthless, saying its meeting was attended by a few so-called parties. The leadership warned Mr Mushhadi to avoid doing so in the future.

The Mushhadi faction in a meeting on Sunday said the PML-Q had first enjoyed power under Gen Pervez Musharraf and then shared power with the PPP-led coalition.

The faction alleged that Mr Karim and Mr Tayyab had made a poll deal with the PML-Q only for their constituencies. The faction appointed Mr Mushhadi council’s chairman.

The meeting also criticised Mr Karim ditching the PML-N despite winning his MNA seat from Faisalabad on the PML-N ticket.

He said Mr Karim had promised to resign in 2005 in protest at the passage of women’s empowerment bill but he failed to keep his words.