14 July 2004	Wednesday	25 Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1425

ISLAMABAD, July 13: The Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) acting secretary-general, Air Marshal (retired) Shahid Zulfiqar, has urged the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) to agree on a joint candidate in the forthcoming bye-elections in Tharparkar and Attock.

Welcoming the decision by the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD) to field a joint candidate against the ruling party candidate in the by-elections, the PTI acting secretary- general said though the selection of Shaukat Aziz is a foregone conclusion.

However, it was important for the opposition to stand up against the undemocratic forces now ruling the country. "The selection of Mr Aziz can not, by any definition, be called an election. The whole thing is a farce built on lies and deceit," Air Marshal (retired) Zulfiqar said.