ISLAMABAD Oct 5: Central Working Committee (CWC) of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League on Thursday ruled out any possibility of a deal or alliance with the PPP Parliamentarians and criticised press reports appearing in this regard from time to time.

The 200-member CWC, nominated by party president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, met at the PML House for the first since the merger of the League’s four factions in 2004.

Senior party leaders, including Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Mansoor Hayat Taman and Ali Akbar Vance addressed the meeting.

While the issue of Balochistan was discussed without any concrete proposals for resolving it, the Protection of Women’s Rights Bill was not mentioned at all.

According to insiders, MNA Akbar Vance severely criticised frequent reports of contacts between the government and the PPP, calling them a conspiracy to weaken the ruling party.

He severely condemned Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain for calling the PML a party of turncoats, and accused the MQM chief of being the chief of a band of thugs and dacoits. He warned him against trying to establish his party in Punjab.

Chaired by Chaudhry Shujaat, the meeting was attended by Punjab Chief Minister and president of PML Punjab Chaudhry Parvaiz Elahi, Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Muhammad Yousuf, Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim, president of PML NWFP Amir Muqam, members of the federal cabinet, parliamentarians and CEC members.

Azad Kashmir Prime Minister Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan attended the meeting as special guest.

Agreeing to a proposal, Prime Minister Aziz announced that the CEC would meet every month and the CWC once in three months.

He warned leaders that the party had a strong base only in Punjab and was required to be strengthened in other three provinces.

He urged the party cadre to work sincerely with discipline for making Pakistan a fortress of Islam.

He informed the CWC that a total of $6 billion would be spent on the rehabilitation of the October 8 quake victims.

Chaudhry Shujaat said holding talks with parties was part of the political process “but there could be no alliance with PPP Parliamentarians”.