960413

Chattha's terms

for PML factions'

reunification

LAHORE: Hamid Nasir Chattha, President of PML(J) has said that if the members of PML-N elect their President other than Mian Nawaz Sharif then his party is ready to negotiate for the reunification of both factions of the PML.

Talking to newsmen on Saturday at Lahore Stock Exchange he said that according to the constitution of PML, Nawaz Sharif did not hold membership of the party. "Then why he became the President?"

He said that in 1993 he (Nawaz) was elected as President of PML through rigging and by violating the rules of procedure of the party "and now once again he is trying to extend the term of his office."

He said that if Nawaz group wanted reunification of PML then an honest person should come forward for the presidentship of the party and co-operate with other groups for unification.

Replying to a query about the expulsion of Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo from PML-J, Chattha said that after change in Punjab "we consider that Wattoo is the member of PML-N but we did not cancel his membership of PML-J. If Wattoo claims that he is still in PML-J then he should contact us and we will be ready to consider his case."

Answering another question about Arshad Ameen Chaudhry's murder case he said that "we will get justice in this regard and the culprits involved in the said case would be awarded exemplary punishment.

He said he had full confidence in the leadership of Benazir Bhutto and said that PML-J would certainly remain in alliance with PPP till the next general elections.

He ruled out any possibility of general elections in 1996 and said that the present government would complete its tenure and the next elections would be held in 1998.-PPI