LAHORE, Feb 9: The PML-N has decided to make use of all ‘available’ resources and plug all loopholes in its own rank and file to protect the party’s government in Punjab in case the PPP withdrew its support.

Provincial president Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa is embarking on an 11-day visit to south Punjab from Tuesday (today) to meet PML-N parliamentarians, ticket-holders, office-bearers and workers.

The focus of the save-the-Punjab-government visit will be the MPs, who were elected as independents and later joined the party as well as those who, as the leadership apprehends, may change their loyalties in case of any incentive from the PPP, say sources in the party.

Hunt for winning more members for the PML-Q forward bloc to enable it secure a majority in the house to escape the disqualification clause is also on the agenda of the tour, they say.

The purpose of the visit is, however, being portrayed by the leadership as mobilising the masses for the lawyers’ long march.

PML-N Deputy Information-Secretary Naeem Mir says Sahiwal will be the first destination of the tour aimed at giving instructions to the party office-bearers about taking all-out efforts to make the long march a success.

MNAs, MPAs and PML-N ticket-holders will also be approached during the tour, Mir says while insisting that its sole purpose will be urging them to contribute their energies and riches to the long march.

Punjab law minister Rana Sanaullah Khan plays down ‘threats’ to the provincial government, believing that the PPP, now a junior partner in the ruling coalition, will not be able to secure the required number of votes by striking an alliance with the PML-Q.

Many MPAs in both the parties have grudges and electoral reservations against each other who will not be voting for the speculative coalition, says Sanaullah, indirectly hinting at members of the forward bloc.

The PPP has 107 and the PML-Q 83 MPAs (84th member of the latter has recently been disqualified by the Lahore High Court) in the 371-strong Punjab Assembly.

Meanwhile, the chief minister has appointed Hamid

Asghar Dar, who is the brother of Ravi Town former nazim, the late Aftab Dar, chief coordinator to the Lahore Development Authority (LDA). His office will be equal to the vice-chairman of the LDA. —By Amjad Mahmood