Sharif should 'prefer national interest to personal ego': PML-November 21,2008

Lahore, Jan 13 (ANI): PML-Q president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has said the political situation of the country would have been "entirely different" had PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif shown flexibility in his stance earlier over the reunification of Pakistan Muslim League (PML) factions.

Addressing a ceremony on the eve of the PML foundation day celebrations here on Monday, Shujaat said: "The flexibility in Nawaz's stance has come really late ... it is also not meant to unite the PML, instead it is aimed at saving the Punjab government."

He said Nawaz had missed two important opportunities for an alliance of PML factions -- one immediately after the February 18 elections last year and the other on the eve of the presidential elections, the Daily Times reported.

The PML-Q chief said Nawaz should "prefer national interest to personal ego," and proposed talks aimed at an alliance of PML factions.

Shujaat said the PML-N had also rejected the role of a senior journalist purportedly mediating between the PML-Q and the PML-N.

Shujaat said he had put forward the following points for the formation of an alliance: "The alliance should not be aimed at saving or toppling a government, the Sharif brothers should change their attitude and refrain from making insulting remarks."

He also called for an end to the alleged victimisation of PML-Q workers.

"The Pervaiz Elahi regime protected the Sharif family's businesses (while they were in exile) ... but the things being done by Shahbaz Sharif's Government are an open secret," he said. (ANI)