November 15, 2002	Friday	Ramazan 9, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, Nov 14: The PML-N acting president, Javed Hashmi, on Thursday alleged that the government is exerting pressure on the members of the anti-government parties to switch their loyalties and support the pro-government parties.

Talking to reporters here after a meeting with the ARD chief, Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan, he said that the government should not encourage horse trading, which was buried by the PML-N government through the 14th constitutional amendment.

The PML-N leader, who delivered a message of former premier Nawaz Sharif and the party president, Shahbaz Sharif, to the ARD chief, said that his party would not compromise on its principled stand on LFO and would continue its struggle for restoration of 1973 Constitution and the supremacy of the parliament.

Commenting on the country’s political situation, he said that the country was to the day facing a martial law like situation and the PML-Q was hostage to the government.

Responding to a question regarding reports that the PPP might support alignment of the pro-government parties, he said that the PML-N would remain firm to its pledge to the nation.

“Irrespective of the fact what other parties do,” he said, the PML-N was committed to struggle for the restoration of the 1973 Constitution and the supremacy of the parliament.

Replying another question, he said that the PML-N had taken a collective decision with the other component parties of the ARD to support Maulana Fazlur Rehman and would remain committed to it.

The PML-N was ready to give a honourable exit to the army to return to the barracks, he said and added that his party had every respect for the army.