October 16, 2003	Thursday	Sha'aban 19, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, Oct 15: Deputy information secretary of the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD) Munir Ahmed Khan has resigned from his office due to differences with the new leadership of the alliance, a source told Dawn on Wednesday.

According to the source, Munir Ahmed Khan, who handed over his resignation to ARD chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim in Lahore on Tuesday, resigned after he was questioned as to why he issued a white paper on Gen Musharraf’s four-year rule on his own without consulting the alliance leadership.

When contacted, ARD chief Makhdoom Amin Fahim confirmed that he had received Mr Khan’s resignation, saying that “the final decision will be taken in the next meeting of the component parties heads”.

Without giving reasons for the resignation, the ARD chairman said: “It is not a serious matter and will be resolved amicably.”

Talking to Dawn by telephone, Munir Ahmed Khan said he had resigned as he wanted to provide an opportunity to the new leadership to appoint office-bearers of their own choice.

He said he had also sent a copy of his resignation to Benazir Bhutto as he was appointed by late Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan after consulting her some two years ago.

He refused to comment on any specific reason for tendering his resignation.

According to the sources, Mr Khan had been heard as saying that some people wanted to disintegrate the opposition alliance after the death of Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan.

Mr Khan, however, said he would continue his struggle against the military dictatorship as a party activist.