Islamabad, Feb 19 : As chances of defeat loom large for the PML-Q, the party leaders have started criticising President Pervez Musharraf and the party leadership in public.

The PML-Q is facing worst crisis of its political history and poised to be losing ground, sources said.

They said that the PML-Q leaders have asked their leadership to keep away from the Presidency.

The party leaders also blamed top party leadership for strategizing poorly for the elections, sources added.

Addressing women workers of the party, PML-Q senior vice president Akram Zaki said it was high time that the party stayed away from Musharraf.

Former Railways Minister Rashid Ahmed said the party could not be termed as an organised party.

He said that the Lal Masjid operation put the party in deep troubles.

One PML-Q leader who earlier claimed to secure 90 seats in National Assembly, later said their party would likely to get 40 NA seats.

ANI