18 February 2004	Wednesday	26 Zilhaj 1424

QUETTA, Feb 17: Leaders and workers of the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy observed a token hunger strike here on Tuesday in connection with the Musharraf-remove campaign.

The ARD established its hunger strike camp in Sadiq Shaheed Park as the local administration did not allow it to set up its camp at Mizeen Chowk to avoid traffic congestion.

About 30 leaders and activists of the ARD component parties observed the strike from 10am to 5pm. Prominent among those who took part in the strike included acting PPP Balochistan President Javed Ahmed, former president of the Balochistan Bar Association Sakhi Sultan advocate, Hidayatullah Pirzada, Syed Sadullah Shah, Khursheed Ahmed of PPP, Sardar Niaz Mohammad Barach of JWP and Nasibullah of PML-N.

A large number of leaders and workers belonging to different opposition parties visited the camp to express solidarity with hunger strikers in their struggle for the restoration of democracy and revival of the Constitution.

Speaking on the occasion, ARD leaders strongly criticized President Musharraf and the present regime and said Pakistan was facing difficulties at the international level due to the wrong polices of this government.

They said the ARD had launched an anti-Musharraf campaign throughout the country which would continue till the restoration of democracy and revival of the Constitution in its original shape.

They announced that the ARD component parties would not compromise on the restoration of real democracy and democratic rights of the people and would continue their struggle. They said the army had no right to rule the country as it was the right of the elected representatives of the people.

ARD leaders demanded that all cases against PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto and PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif should be withdrawn and they should be allowed to return to play their rule in steering the country of the present crisis.