ISLAMABAD, Dec 12: The top leadership of the PML-Q appears to be divided over the mechanism of getting rid of its president Mian Mohammad Azhar as one group is trying to reach at a patch-up with the belligerent leader while the other wanted to give him a good lesson, sources told Dawn on Thursday.

Chaudhry Shujat Hussain who is a sure winner in the result of move to oust Mian Azhar is keeping himself away from the proceedings and his younger brother is handling the process with active support of other party office-bearers.

When asked about the possibility of a split in the party as a result of passage of a no-confidence motion against party president, Abdul Majeed Malik, who is running the party business after clipping Mian Azhar’s powers said: “Definitely some people will part ways with party but it will be very minor”.

He said: “It was an unfortunate occasion when the party was compelled to take action against its president but it had become inevitable in the circumstances which were the creation of the incumbent party chief, he added.

He said that every effort would be made to keep the party from a possible split owing to the ouster of Mian Azhar as party president.

He confirmed that some party leaders were asked and were trying to establish contact with Mian Azhar and his supporters for a possible patch up.

Commenting on the statement of Punjab chief minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi that fresh talks will be held with Mian Azhar to resolve the issue amicably, he said: “The leadership wanted that the situation is brought to normal by endeavouring to keep the differences within a certain limit”.

Salim Saifullah Khan the acting secretary general of the party who is confident to be elected as whole time party secretary-general after being appointed by Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali on assuming the office of prime minister refuted the allegations that the signatures on the no-confidence motion were fake levelled by Mian Azhar in Lahore.

He invited this scribe to examine the names and signatures on the requisition and confirm them by contacting the concerned members about signing the no-trust motion.

He told Dawn that the party president had himself shut the doors on reconciliation by choosing the self-destruction course.

When asked for his comments on Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi’s latest statement that renewed talks will be held with Mian Azhar on a possible reconciliation, Saifullah Khan said: “I am yet to confirm the health of the statement by directly contacting the Punjab CM”.