PML-J sets terms for merger with Nawaz faction

The Pakistan Muslim League (Junejo), the smallest of the four Muslim League factions, is ready to merge into PML-N, the party loyal to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on condition that the leadership of the party is transferred to Nawaz's younger brother Shahbaz Sharif.

Reports here said a message to this effect is understood to have been conveyed to the party by the Junejo faction chief, Hamid Nasir Chattha, a former minister and speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan.

He told mediators, working to unite the party, that Nawaz must abdicate himself and pass on the leadership to Shahbaz who is much enterprising than Nawaz.

Attempts to forge unity between the like-minded group known as PML-QA and the faction, led by Sindhi politician Pir Pagara, have backfired. Sources said these efforts had the backing of the regime in power.

In the meantime, both the PPP and the PML-N have strongly objected to statements from President General Pervez Musharraf that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto will not be allowed to contest elections, due in October.

"Musharraf is no one to dictate terms to the people of Pakistan," the Nawaz faction said.

The PPP termed it as "undemocratic and illegal". In a statement a spokesperson of the party called upon the chief election commissioner, the Supreme Court and the international community to take a note of what it called "pre-election rigging by the military regime".

The PPP emphasised that Benazir Bhutto was the front runner for the general elections. It recalled that similar attempts made by former military dictator General Zia-ul-Haq had backfired.

The party criticised the president for raising his salary and perks. Such a person was hardly in a position to tell the nation who should be allowed to contest.