PML dissidents call for Shujaat’s removal as party president

ISLAMABAD—Ruling PML (Forward block) has formally demanded for removal of Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and nomination of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz as president of party.
This was told by moving spirit of forward block, Riaz Pirzada, MNA while talking to the journalists here Friday. “In this respect we have sent a letter to the Prime Minister carrying signatures of over 35 MNAs which has reached them, he said. If chief minister Punjab can hold two offices, why not the Prime Minister become president of PML, he remarked.
President and the Prime Minister should look into the matter personally and change the leadership. Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain had become president of PML with the blessing of the President General Pervez Musharraf otherwise he has neither any vote bank nor is some known leader.
He went on to say that PPP-Patriots, National Alliance and other smaller groups joined hands with PML at the behest of the President. But their agenda was not taken forward, he added. “ We demand that Shaukat Aziz be made president of PML so that party gains more strength and emerges victorious in the next general elections with overwhelming majority”, he stressed. The PML President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and members of Forward block could not meet in parliament house on Friday despite the fact that they were present there. Both of them accused each other of not reaching the committee room.
Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain had invited the dissident group of party to meet him in committee room and express the reservations, if any, before him there on Friday. “ I will listen to them”, Shujaat assured. They should come there till 1200 hrs, I will wait for them”, he added.
Riaz Pirzada when reached the committee room at 1200 hrs, no one except journalists was present there. Therefore, he returned to house among his associates and told them that Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain had not turned up in the committee room. When asked, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain told the journalists that he was present in committee room at 1205 hrs and he kept on waiting there for the members having reservations for half an hour but they did not come up. “ I am still ready to listen to them. Their reservations will be removed whatever they have”, he told.—Online