December 6, 2003	Saturday	Shawwal 11, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, Dec 5: The heads of component parties of the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy will meet in Lahore on Dec 13 to finalize a protest plan against the military government, a source told Dawn here on Friday.

The source said there was a possibility that the ARD would announce a schedule of public meetings in various cities to mobilize the masses against the Legal Framework Order and the president’s uniform after the meeting.

He said the ARD leaders believed that by Dec 13 the situation would be much clear regarding ongoing deal between the government and the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal on the proposed constitutional package and it would be convenient for the alliance to chalkout its own strategy.

Meanwhile, acting parliamentary leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-N Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan called on ARD chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim at the latter’s farm house here on Friday evening.

The leaders of the two major opposition parties discussed the prevailing political situation in the country emerging after announcement of the protest plan by the MMA. A source told Dawn that the two leaders expressed their concern over the MMA’s “changed attitude” and for not consulting the ARD before finalizing its protest plan.

According to another source, Chaudhry Nisar also held a meeting with MMA MNA Liaquat Baloch and conveyed the ARD’s concern over the decision of the religious alliance of announcing the protest plan unilaterally.

The source said Mr Baloch had assured the ARD leader that the religious alliance was a part of the combined opposition and that it would not compromise on principles.