PML-Q merges with Functional

KARACHI Pakistan Muslim League, commonly known as PML-Q, and Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) have been merged into a single party under the banner of 'All Pakistan Muslim League. The move came after PML-Q President Ch Shujaat Hussain and Secretary General Mushahid Hussain held a meeting with Pir Sahib Pagara at his residence, Kingri House, in Karachi on Saturday. Addressing a joint news conference after the meeting, Pir Pagara said the two parties had been merged under the name of All Pakistan Muslim League. He said Nawaz Sharif and Pervez Musharraf had not contacted him so far and it would be beneficial for PTI Chairman Imran Khan to join hands with them. He said Imran would be left alone if he decided not to contact. We will also welcome Nawaz Sharif in case he contacts. Pir Pagara recalled that Ch Zahoor Elahi, father of Ch Shujaat, came to him decades ago and asked him to lead the Muslim League and his son had revived history by visiting his residence for the same purpose. It is pertinent to note that efforts were on to unite various factions of Muslim League for the past few months, which had been intensified last week when Shujaat and Mushahid met Pir Sahib Pagara while Awami Muslim League (AML). President Sheikh Rashid Ahmad also visited Kingri House three days back while suggesting that the Muslim League factions should be merged under the leadership of Pir Pagara. Pir Pagara told reporters that he had ironed out his differences by holding talks and his doors were open for greater alliance. However, he said neither Nawaz Sharif nor Pervez Musharraf had contacted him yet. He also remarked, When Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was born, he had announced that he (Bilawal) belonged to us and he would be made the secretary general of Muslim League. To a question about Ejazul Haqs role in the newly formed party, he replied that his role would be the same as one could expect from 'the son of a martial law administrator. Speaking on the occasion, Shujaat said he had asked Pir Pagara to assume the role of his patron. He said the Muslim League had established the country and it was the only party to save the country, which was passing through the worst kind of multiple crises, adding there was no time to create political differences for the sake of scoring points. And we have started the mission by merging our parties into one entity and established All Pakistan Muslim League which would save the country at the current critical juncture, he maintained. He praised Pir Pagara as a diehard and senior most Muslim Leaguer besides being the ideal personality in the country to take the responsibility of uniting various factions of the party. Under the leadership of Pir Pagara, All Pakistan Muslim League will flourish across the country and would play a leading role in the countrys future politics, Shujaat observed.