Former Prime Minister and senior leader of Pakistan Muslim League Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali resigned on Monday from the basic membership of the party, expressing his strong resentment on the attitude of the party President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain.
The resignation was handed over to the party President at the meeting of Central Executive Committee (CEC) held with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz in the chair to discuss various issues of national importance.
The meeting discussed judicial crisis, Lal Masjid issue, budget and upcoming elections, whereas law and order in Karachi particularly with reference to the May 12 mayhem would be discussed at a meeting tomorrow on Tuesday.
"Yes I have presented my resignation to the party President as I did earlier while handing over the premiership resignation following party discipline" told the much-frustrated former Prime Minister to reporters after the meeting. He further said he has decided to resign from the basic membership of the party and now it depends on the party leadership to decide.
Earlier, the party stalwarts including Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Secretary General Mushahid Hussain Sayed and Information Minister Mohammad Ali Durrani made hectic efforts to motivate the former prime minister to withdraw his resignation, but he refused.
Party President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain sidelining the issue said that PML is the largest political and democratic party and each member has the right to express his reservation on one way or the other.
However, he claimed that party executive has not accepted the resignation of the former Prime Minister. He said all the party matters would be resolved amicably. Sources privy to the meeting disclosed that presenting a charge sheet against the party President, Jamali alleged that party leadership is engaged in promoting his political rivals in his constituency to weaken him politically.
Jamali complained that neither Prime Minister has time to listen to the complaints of party workers nor the party President, sources added. About judicial crisis, the sources said Former Chief Minister Punjab and Senior Vice President PML Manzoor Watto told the party leadership to reconsider the reference filed against the Chief Justice of Pakistan to avoid further crisis-like situation in the country.
The majority of the party leadership endorsed Wattoo's suggestions, it is learnt. Sources further informed that majority of the party leadership also lambasted the Sindh government for mishandling the May 12 crisis saying that it defamed party and the government.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz briefed the party about the measures being taken for the upcoming budget promising that it would be a pro-poor document. He told the meeting that Rs 500 billion would be earmarked for the Public Sector Development Programme for the fiscal year 2007-08.
It is also learnt that majority of the participants recommended pragmatic steps to control unprecedented inflation, unemployment and poverty, keeping in view the upcoming presidential and general elections. According to the sources, party President Chaudhry Shujaat briefed the meeting about his dialogue with the Lal Masjid administration and sought time to settle the issue through negotiation.
He also warned of serious consequences in case force is used, which was also supported by majority of the party leaders.