14 February 2004	Saturday	22 Zilhaj 1424

LAHORE, Feb 13: The Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD) on Friday launched its drive against President Gen Pervez Musharraf by holding protest camps at district headquarters and calling for the establishment of a government of national consensus at one such camp in the Punjab capital, whose participants were addressed among others by the coalition chief, Makhdoom Amin Fahim.

The ARD chairman was yet to speak when PPP deputy information secretary Altaf Qureshi moved a resolution for the national government in view of the challenges facing the country. It was adopted by a voice vote. However, in his speech the ARD chairman did not make even a remote reference to the subject. But, talking to reporters at the end of the protest camp, he said at present Gen Musharraf was calling the shots and it was a one-man show.

The prime minister and the cabinet had become redundant as they were meant for stamping the decisions taken by the general. Since decisions taken by an individual were always harmful, the Makhdoom said the nation should be empowered to decide all matters concerning its future.

"We are not demanding the dissolution of assemblies, nor do we seek to discredit the present government. We are also not demanding that power should be handed over to the ARD. We only want that a single person should not take decisions for the nation."

Despite repeated questions, the ARD chief did not use the term 'government of national consensus' in his answers. But, he said, there were several ways to achieve the objectives outlined by him.

Asked about the MMA's proposal for an all-party conference to discuss the situation after the leakage of nuclear secrets and technology to some countries, the ARD chief said he had not yet received any such proposal. Once it was formally made, he said, the ARD leaders would discuss it and take a decision.

About the MMA's demand that exiled leaders Benazir Bhutto and Mian Nawaz Sharif should be allowed to come back, the ARD chief said any good thing said by anyone was welcome.

However, he said, the ARD regarded the MMA as a part of the government and thus would rely on its own struggle to bring the PPP chairperson and the PML-N leader home.

He indicated that the ARD would not seek the MMA's support to requisition a session of the National Assembly to discuss the matter of the nuclear scientists.

Earlier, the ARD chairman said such camps would be held at all district headquarters. The opposition wanted to save the country's nuclear capability at all costs.

The PPP and its founding chairman Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had paid a very heavy price to give the country a nuclear programme and make its defence invincible, he added.

According to him, the movement against Mr Bhutto had been launched because of his determination to make Pakistan a nuclear power. The programme started by Mr Bhutto was continued by successive governments and then Mian Nawaz Sharif took it to its logical conclusion by going for nuclear tests in May, 1998.

The ARD chairman said now that an 'undemocratic government' was asked to explain certain things about nuclear proliferation it went for scapegoating scientists. The policy was targeted at preventing the exposure of some 'bigwigs'.

Mr Fahim said the nuclear programme was a matter of life and death for the country and thus steps taken by the government to protect it should be discussed in parliament.

Referring to official assertions that the nuclear programme was in safe hands, the ARD chairman asked where these hands were when sensitive technology was being given to other countries.

He said a special session of parliament should be called to discuss the nuclear issue. PPP secretary-general Jehangir Badr, Punjab PML-N secretary-general Khwaja Saad Rafiq, Lahore PPP president Mian Misbahur Rehman, Haji Hanif, Sajida Mir, Sohail Malik, Nawaz Gondal and Munawwar Anjum also addressed the camp participants.

Ms Talat Yaqoob, Faiza Malik and Samiullah Khan (MPAs) and Abdul Qadir Shaheen, Pir Nau Bahar Shah, Ms Shamim Niazi, Haji Azizur Rehman Chan, Dr Fakharuddin and Khwaja Izhar were prominent among a few dozen participants at the camp.

The protesters raised slogans against the government and in favour of the ARD leaders, specially the former prime ministers. On Saturday, the protest camp would be set up at Chauburji.