KARACHI, July 7: Prime Minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain said here on Wednesday that the Pakistan Muslim League favoured the holding of local government elections on party basis and it would fully participate in the polls, along with our allied parties.

Mr Hussain, who is also President of Pakistan Muslim League, was talking to a group of newsmen on Wednesday after addressing party workers and leaders at the State Guest House.

The prime minister said Mr Shaukat Aziz had been nominated for prime minister's slot by President Pervez Musharraf to stabilise economy and "he enjoys the support of all allied parties".

Mr Hussain expressed his confidence that Shaukat Aziz would be elected from both NA constituencies as both seats belonged to PML. The prime minister said that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement was a major ally and would get its due share in the government.

"We will restore law and order in Sindh, with the cooperation of the MQM", he added. Referring to the challenges being faced by the country, he said "we are aware of the problems of the people."

"We will face the challenges squarely and will take our friends all along and will not provide them an opportunity to complain". He said that necessary steps were being taken to provide relief to the people and soon they would feel it.

Earlier, addressing party workers, Mr Hussain announced nomination of chief minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim and Imtiaz Ahmed Shaikh as president and general secretary of the PML (Sindh chapter).

While nominating Al-Haj Shamimuddin as its vice president, the prime minister said a session of the National Assembly would soon be called to make necessary amendments to the PPO to be followed by a formal announcement of the names of other office-bearers.

He said it was the idea of President Musharraf not to mix-up the party and government affairs so that their working could be improved. Mr Hussain said there were many senior leaders and towering personalities in the PML Sindh who would be adjusted.

Urging the party workers not to be dismayed over the situation, he called for maintaining unity in their ranks and file, and said soon they would get due respect. The party chief announced setting up of a PML welfare project for deserving party workers.

Referring to the delay in recruitment to government departments, he said there were certain complications and efforts were being made to remove them and to simplify the procedure. However, he made it clear that in the police recruitment merit would strictly be followed.

Earlier, speaking on this occasion, party workers opened a Pandora's box and spoke about their problems and said they were not given any importance in the party, and decisions were being imposed from the top and bureaucracy was not paying any heed to their complaints.

They demanded that the district bureaucracy be issued directives for giving importance to resolve the problems of the people. PML secretary-general Senator Mushahid Hussain, speaking at a luncheon meeting of the party workers in a local hotel, said that party's organization would soon be completed up to UC level and the party would emerge as one of the most organized and strong parties having roots in masses.

He appealed to party workers to forge unity in their ranks and file by forgetting their differences. Imtiaz Shaikh pointed out that there was disappointment among party workers who were not satisfied with the party leadership.

He said Prime minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain had opened the gates of the Prime Minister's House on party workers. Promising a new policy for workers dignity, he said he would like to make the party strong in the province with the consultation of friends to meet the challenges posed by the PPP in the province.

Senator Tariq Azeem said that the party workers should not get disappointed as the PM was sympathetic towards their problems. Senator Iqbal Dar said he himself had been one of the party workers and was aware of their feelings. Others who spoke on this occasion included Al-Haj Shamimuddin, Bostan Ali Hoti, Sahibzada Munir, Badar Iqbal and Azad Bin Haider.