June 23, 2003	Monday	Rabi-us-Sani 22,1424

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PESHAWAR, June 22: The Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD) and Awami National Party (ANP) moved closer in a high-level contact for their reunion here on Sunday.

Senior ARD leaders including Amin Fahim of PPP(P), Chaudhry Nisar of PML-N and Raza Rabbani of PPPP formally extended invitation to ANP for its rejoining the ARD ranks during a meeting with top leadership of the party.

The Sunday’s meeting lasted for about two hours at the residence of ANP’s senior vice-president Haji Ghuhlam Ahmed Bilour, which was the first ever formal contact between the two sides.

Talking to reporters after the talks, the ANP chief Asfandyar Wali Khan said decision about ARD’s invitation would be taken by the Central Executive Committee (CEC) of the party.

“ANP’s decisions are taken by its democratic institutions, therefore, the matter would be tabled before the CEC for the final decision,” said Mr Asfandyar.

He refused to speak about his personal opinion. “How can I comment before having taken the matter to the CEC ?” he replied.

However, other ANP leaders did not reject the possibility of rejoining the ARD. “Chances are there,” said Mian Iftikhar, ANP’s information secretary.

According to him, Sunday’s meeting between the two sides came following informal contacts established between them over a month ago.

Apart from Asfandyar Wali, ANP’s leaders who represented their party included Begum Nasim Wali Khan, Haji Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, Bashir Bilour, Haji Adeel, Syed Aaqil Shah, Mian Iftikhar and Ilyas Bilour.

The ANP left the ARD one-and-a-half-year ago after developing differences over the question of ARD’s stand on the last military government’s policy towards Afghanistan in the wake of 9/11 attacks in the US.

“Situation was different at that time when we left ARD,” said the ANP chief.

Senior ARD leaders Amin Fahim and Chaudhry Nisar said the reunion would be made purely on the basis of ARD’s charter seeking restoration of democracy in the country.

PPPP president Amin Fahim said the ARD had extended invitation to the ANP with an open heart to relaunch joint struggle for the restoration of democracy.

“We hold ANP in high esteem in view of its political struggle and believe that ANP’s inclusion in the ARD would strengthen the Alliance,” said Mr Fahim.

He added that it was the need of the hour that democratic forces should forge unity among their ranks to achieve  the collective objective of getting democracy restored in its true spirit.

The National Assembly speaker’s ruling on the Legal Framework Order (LFO), said Mr Fahim, had undermined the integrity of his office being custodian of the house.

Replying to an other question, he said ANP’s re-entry into The Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy would not affect the latter’s on-going co-operation with the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal against the PML-Q government.