ARD not to change protest strategy till 16th -DAWN

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December 9, 2003	Tuesday	Shawwal 14, 1424

ARD not to change protest strategy till 16th

By Our Staff Reporter

ISLAMABAD, Dec 8: The Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy has decided not to change its ongoing protest strategy in the Senate and to continue boycott of the proceedings till the presentation of the proposed constitutional package in parliament on Dec 16, sources said here on Monday.

The same source said the ARD had taken the decision at a meeting of its parliamentary group in the Senate held at the Parliament House before a meeting of the opposition. The meeting was presided over by PPP’s Senator Mian Raza Rabbani.

He said the ARD would finalize its protest strategy after reviewing the contents of the constitutional package on the Legal Framework Order, adding that by that time, Muttahida Majlis-i- Amal’s position would also become clear.

He said there was a possibility that the MMA would remain part of the combined opposition even after the package’s presentation as it was yet to be seen whether the government presented the same package as it had agreed with the MMA. “If the government tables an amended package, the MMA leaders have already announced that they will reject it,” he added. He said in that case, the MMA and the ARD would get even more closer.

When contacted, PPP’s parliamentary leader in the Senate Raza Rabbani said the opposition would continue “desk-thumping” and walkouts from the Senate.

Mr Rabbani expressed the hope that the MMA would not make any compromises on the LFO issue. “If the MMA makes a deal with the government, then the ARD will be the only dominant force left on the opposition benches,” he said, ridiculing the MMA leaders’ stance that they would continue to be part of the opposition even after endorsing the LFO in the parliament. “The ARD will continue its struggle for the supremacy of the Constitution and parliament,” he added.

Referring to the strategy for the session in which the constitutional package would be presented, he said the alliance had not taken any decision in this regard.