THE importance of the PML(Q) central leadership meeting in Islamabad is not so much the decision to constitute a committee in place of, but including, Ch Shujaat Hussain, as the overall atmosphere, which was to end the hegemony of the Chaudhrys of Gujrat. The PML(Q) was established to provide Gen Pervez Musharraf, then both President and COAS, with political support. Now that Musharraf is neither, the PML(Q) is a little at a loss for direction, and is not sure whether to merge with the PML(N) or not. If not that, they would like to join hands with the PPP. For this purpose, Forward Blocs have been formed within the central and Punjab parliamentary parties, and there were negotiations with the PPP, which did not come to any result. However, the absoluteness of the hold of the Chaudhrys has been challenged, with the Islamabad meeting just one in a long chain of events. Ch Shujaat, who was previously free to make all decisions, now has to go to a committee with Gohar Ayub and Hamid Nasir Chattha as the other members, to exercise his functions as party president. The party's dissidents are looking to the next party election next August as the latest date to replace the Chaudhrys, but that has not prevented voices within the party demanding Ch Shujaat's immediate resignation, voices which found expression at the Islamabad meeting. Though the resignations have been put off for now for a decision by the Central Executive Committee, a decision will be taken later. This makes it clear that the Chaudhrys will not be out of danger as long as Musharraf keeps patronizing the dissidents. The anger with the Chaudhrys goes back to the period of Ch Pervez Elahi (who was not at the Islamabad meeting) as Punjab Chef Minister, when the party was essentially a vehicle for getting access to power. Ever since the party's loss in the last elections, the Chaudhrys have been under attack, both verbally and practically in the shape of the Forward Blocs. It seems that unless the Chaudhrys can deliver power, the party will inevitably disintegrate.