LAHORE, July 23: The all-party conference to be organized by the PML-N on Saturday would be a step towards supremacy of the Constitution, according to the party’s provincial secretary-general.

MNA Khwaja Saad Rafiq told newsmen on Wednesday that preparations for the conference had been completed and invitation letters sent to all the ‘democratic’ parties. The parties in the ruling coalition could not be called democratic, and, thus had not been invited, he added.

Mr Rafiq made it clear that his party would not be flexible on its stand on the supremacy of the Constitution, and the dictators should not expect any concessions on this subject. “The parties on the side of the dictators have nothing to do with democracy. Their leaders are test-tube politicians,” the PML-N leader said about the parties in the ruling coalition.

He believed that the MMA would not compromise on principles, as the nation was monitoring its role for democracy.

Answering a question, he said conflicting statements being issued by the prime minister and the PML-Q president were adding to the confusion. Consequently, he said, no positive outcome of the talks between the government and opposition was in sight.

He quoted Chaudhry Shujaat Husain as saying that everything could be discussed, except the issue of Gen Musharraf’s uniform. In fact, he said, the uniform was the most important subject the opposition would like to settle first.

Mr Rafiq said his party would take an active part in the Aug 14 public meeting to be held in Rawalpindi. Before the meeting, the party would organize the Independence Day functions and reaffirm that it would rid the nation of dictatorial rule, he said.

He ridiculed senior adviser Sharifuddin Pirzada’s statement that Madr-i-Millat Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah did not meet a natural death, but was assassinated.

PML-N leader Pir Binyamin demanded that Syed Sharifuddin Pirzada be interrogated to find truth about the death of the Madr-i-Millat.

PML-N leaders Zaeem Husain Qadri and Rana Mashhood were also present on the occasion.