October 30, 2002	Wednesday	Sha’aban 23,1423

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ISLAMABAD, Oct 29: The Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD) on Tuesday gave mandate to the veteran politician, Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan, for holding talks with other parties for the formation of political government.

The decision was taken here at a meeting of the alliance’s component parties, with the Nawabzada in the chair. President People’s Party Parliamentarian (PPP), Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Secretary General, Pakistan Muslim League (N), Saranjam Khan, President, Pakistan Muslim League (Jinnah), Mian Manzoor Wattoo and representatives of other parties attended the meeting.

The ARD, which has to choose between Pakistan Muslim League (Q) or Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal for the future coalition partner, had a strong proclivity towards the latter because of a common stand on the constitutional amendments made by the Musharraf government through Legal Framework Order, an inside source said.

The participant at the Tuesday’s meeting were of the view that they could form a government with MMA but it was very difficult to reach any understanding with Pakistan Muslim League (Q) on the issue of LFO.

“It is better to talk directly to the government or President Musharraf rather than wasting time with PML(Q),” a source present at the ARD’s meeting said.

There were divergent opinions among the PPP leaders on the issue of formation of a government with the PML(Q). Makhdoom Amin Fahim still believed that they could work out some kind of understanding with the PML(Q) in the larger interest of democracy and the nation but a potent group with-in the party was strongly against it.

When a reporter asked Amin Fahim after the ARD’s meeting about the reported differences in the party ranks, he said: “The PPP is a big and democratic party. Every member in the party was entitled to have his or her views.”

However, he emphatically stated that the final decision would be made by the leadership and followed by the whole party.

Nawabzada Nasrullah avoided to offer a direct reply to a question whether he would also hold negotiations with the PML(Q) for the formation of government.

When asked to comment on reports that the government was contemplating a proposal to withdraw legal restriction on floor crossing, Nawabzada Nasrullah said that in the days ahead of elections, the whole government machinery, including the governors, chief secretaries and home secretaries, had been forcing people to change their loyalties. “It will be a highly immoral act,” he added.

On a question, Saranjam Khan said that they had received an invitation from MMA for today’s (Tuesday’s) meeting but for them ARD’s meeting was more important.