ALL factions of the Pakistan Muslim League have let it be known that Pakhtoonkhwa as the new name for NWFP is unacceptable to them. Top brass of PML-Q, Nawaz and other factions held separate meetings and reached the conclusion that the name should neither be Pakhthoonkhwa Afghania nor Pakhtoonistan. The ANPs demand conveyed by party chief Asfandyar Wali to leaders of various League groups met with the same rebuff. It was rightly agreed that the matter should be left to the people of the province who should select the name through a referendum. This unanimity of thought on a critical issue such as giving a new name to the NWFP would also show that underneath the fabric of the Muslim League, lies a common streak that has been keeping guard over the forces inimical to the interests of Pakistan. Given the fact that the roots of Pakhtoonistan issue could be traced back to parochial elements existing in the frontier province a long time back, which tried to further polarise the Pakistani society, the decision by all of the different blocs of the PML to oppose the ANPs suggestion becomes all the more significant. However, reason dictates that keeping in view the crossroads the country currently finds itself at, with a paucity of mature leaders to manoeuvre it out of the sticky situation to some place of stability, it is high time these PML factions merged into a single party bearing the beacon and message of founder of the nation Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Under his charismatic leadership, the party remained a cohesive unit enabling the nation to gain its independence from the British yoke. Evidently, the dream of a separate homeland for the Muslims of the subcontinent would not have materialised, had it not been the exceptional strength of unity and character the party showed in the run-up to the partition. But as ill luck would have it, the Pakistan Muslim League veered off its original track soon after the untimely demise of the Quaid, as squabbling politicians assumed the helm and turned the party platform to project their own persona and power. Divisions and factions were the inevitable corollaries of such selfish pursuits. True, General Musharraf also did great harm to the party just to secure his own rule. However, he is history now and the PML-Q and the PML-N must let by-gones be by-gones. At present, these PML factions, rather than seeking pride in isolation, should come closer to each other and join hands to save the country. There is an endless list of crises, ranging from water shortages to the costlier sugar. On the external front, there are bigger threats like the Indo-US nexus, which needs to be effectively dealt with.