KARACHI, Oct 1: Pir Pagara, President of his own defunct faction of the Pakistan Muslim League, praying for strengthening of the unified PML and the health of its President, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, expressed apprehension that in case of differences between the chief executive and the party leaders, the chief executive would form his own PML, as had been the practice in the country.

He said that if the President Gen Musharraf was not going to head the unified party, it might face divisions again.

He said he wished that the day should not come in his life time, but added that there was a need to take a lesson from the past.

“If we avoid to create dissension in the party and take the party workers all along, the party would remain united,” he said.

Earlier, PML President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain expressed gratitude for Pir Pagara for his guidance for unification of the party and termed him the patron of the PML.

Referring to the speeches of PML leaders, Hamid Nasir Chattha, Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo and Eijazul Haque, the PML president said there was a need for action and sacrifices rather than speeches, to enable the party to meet various challenges faced by it.

Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain commended the commitment of President Gen Pervez Musharraf for solving water issue in Sindh.

He said he had asked Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervez Ellahi that if there was need to give sacrifice for Sindh, he should take decision without taking into account his popularity.

We should make sacrifices for Sindh where there was a sense of deprivation, he said.

He said despite being leader of the party he sacrificed for smaller a province by proposing the name of Mr Jamali for the office of the premier minister.

Referring to the resignations of two MNAs and Two MPAs and a minister of his party (PML-Q), he said that he had asked the Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervez Ellahi that if they had resigned for want of development work in their constituencies, he should go to them and assure them of his cooperation but if they had resigned over seeking postings of some particular SP or DSP in their area, the speaker should be asked not to delay for a minute in accepting their resignation.

He said maintenance of law and order and providing protection to the people was the responsibility of the government, on which there could be no compromise, adding that the people must get justice.

We would remain united and there was no issue of leadership in the party, which had only one leader, Quaide Azam, he said.

“When the history of unification of the Muslim League will be written, it will have the name of Pir Pagara at the top,” he said. while speaking at a reception, held at the Kingri House on Wednesday night, adds APP.

The reception was also addressed by presidents of various defunct factions of the Muslim League; Hamid Nasir Chathta, Manzoor Watoo, Aijazul Huq and Saeed Ahmed Minhas, and attended by prominent Muslim leaguers and party workers belonging to all unified factions of the Muslim League.

“We have got together with all sincerity of our intentions and we will run this party together,” Chaudhry Shujaat announced amidst applause.

He said that the neglected workers would be given their due status in the unified party.

Chaudhry Shujaat assured that the Muslim League would be run with collective consultation and no one would be ignored.

Referred to the issue of water shortage, he said it had been taken up by the President in view of its seriousness, adding that he and his partymen would fully support the president on this issue.

Prominent among those who were present on the occasion included Senator Nisar A Memon, Federal Railway Minister Ghous Bux Khan Mahar, Gohar Ayub Khan, former Federal Information Minister Mushahid Hussain, Federal Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, former ministers Saleem Saifullah and Haleem Siddiqi, some provincial ministers of PML, women leaders, Begum Rahat Javed, Syeda Zahida Zaidi, Dr Sultana Ibrahim, Naila Inam, Hina Ghouri, Bano Atiqa, Shahnaz Shaikh, Aliya and many others.

All the speakers declared their commitment and allegiance to the unified Muslim League and reposed their full confidence in the leadership of Ch Shujaat Hussain and above all that of the Pir Pagara.

They emphasised the need for working for serving the greater interest of Pakistan.

Mian Manzoor Watoo called for share of workers in jobs, as well as in power and respect.

On the occasion, Hyderabad PML office-bearers presented a key to Pir Saheb Pagara and Shaikh Sirajuddin, Secretary of the PML organizing committee, said that it was the key to their hearts.

All the leaders of defunct PML faction were presented Sindhi Ajraks and bouquet by party’s female leaders.