ISLAMABAD, April 10 The popularity of former president Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf may have declined but more and more individuals are showing interest in using his name for their newly formed political parties with the hope that the former military ruler will once again play his role in country's politics.

The Election Commission which met with its minimum strength on Saturday was supposed to consider the application of Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif for registration of newly formed All Pakistan Muslim League. However, no decision was taken because two more parties with the same name jumped into the arena with overlapping claims, forcing the EC to delay decision till its next meeting scheduled for May 8.

The meeting was presided over by Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Hamid Ali Mirza.

According to sources, Mr Musharraf was behind the newly formed APML and he would take a position in the party after its registration with the EC.

The meeting was attended by two of its four members. The two members were Justice Jehanzaib Rehan of Peshawar High Court and Justice Iqbal Hameed-ur-Rehman of Lahore High Court. Under the law, a minimum of two members have to be present to complete the quorum.

Election Commission Secretary Ishtiak Ahmed Khan told Dawn that Barrister Saif had already submitted the documents sought by EC for registering a new political party. He, however, said the EC received another application from one Mohammad Ashfaq Chaudhry from Rawalpindi, seeking registration of his party with the name All Pakistan Muslim League (Pervez Musharraf Group). One Jameel Naqshbandi from Karachi submitted an application, warning the EC against registration of a party with name of APML.

He claimed that his party with the same name was already registered with the EC back in 2006.

Mr Naqshbandi said his party had been formed in the memory of All India Muslim League. He said the founder of the party was a former student leader of All India Muslim League, Syed Mashkoor Ali Thanvi. His claim, however, could not be verified from EC's record.

The secretary said Mr Naqshbandi had been given one week time to provide documentary evidence in support of his claim while Ashfaq Chaudhry had been asked to complete formalities for registration of the party.

Mr Ishtiak Ahmed clarified that there was no provision in the existing law for registration of a political party with the Election Commission.

However, every new political party is required under Article 4(2) of the Political Parties Order, 2002, to provide a copy of its constitution. The party leader is required to submit within seven days of the completion of intra-party elections, a certificate to that effect to EC in terms of Rule 7 of the Political Parties Rules, 2002.

He said there were 114 political parties on the record of the EC. Under the law all political parties are required to submit a consolidated statement of accounts of the party audited by a chartered accountant, within sixty days from the close of each financial year.

He said 56 out of them had already met the requirement and their names had been published in the official gazette while remaining 71 parties were asked to submit the statements by February 28. He said another 13 parties had now submitted statements of accounts.