22 September 2004	Wednesday	06 Shaban 1425

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QUETTA, Sept 21: The Alliance for Restoration of Democracy has assured leaders of Ponam, ANP and lawyers that the alliance believed in collective struggle to restore supremacy of parliament so that governmental affairs are run in line with the Constitution.

ARD chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim accompanied by Tehmina Daultana, Nawabzada Mansoor Ali Khan, Amanullah Kanrani, Nawabzada Lashkari Khan Raisani and others met leaders of Ponam and ANP separately and addressed the Balochistan Bar Association on Tuesday.

Mr Fahim, while lauding the role of lawyers in the democratic struggle, stated that lawyers had always been in the forefront of all democratic movements against military dictatorship and autocratic rules in the country and expressed the hope that lawyers would continue contributing in the democratic movement for the rule of law in the country.

He acknowledged that both PPP and PML-N had in the past committed mistakes and mismanaged political matters that cost the democratic system, adding "we won't hesitate saying 'sorry' to what had happened in the past. He, however, pledged that it would never repeat in future.

Lashing out at the military dictators Ayub Khan, Yahya Khan, Ziaul Haq and President Musharraf he said the military establishment had harmed the democratic system through extra-constitutional methods.

The ARD leader was also critical of the top judiciary that endorsed unconstitutional steps of all dictators on the pretext of the so-called "law of necessity," adding that it was very tragic that custodians of the law submitted to the will and illegal acts of military dictators and oppressors.

Mr Fahim said that democratic parties, Bar associations, labour federations, peasant organizations and student bodies had suffered in the struggle against undemocratic rulers as the former believed in peaceful means whereas the latter used the State apparatus to capture power.

"But no dictator can suppress the constitutional movement through repression if political activists, lawyers, growers, labourer and students launch a united movement to expell unlawful rulers to restore true democracy in the country," he said.

He demanded of the government to end military operation in Wana and Balochistan and release all arrested political leaders and workers in Balochistan, stressing that talks should be initiated with the Baloch leadership to resolve political issues through peaceful means.

MNA Tehmina Daultana, in her brief speech, asserted that the worst days were over and added that the ARD was unitedly trying to rid the people of military dictatorship.

She said Mr Nawaz Sharif was very disturbed by military operations in Wana and Balochistan and urged Bar members to support the ARD in its struggle against the military oligarchy that had undermined the constitution and parliament.

TWO TRIBESMEN KILLED: Two men were killed and another injured on Tuesday in an armed clash between two groups of Jatak and Mosyani tribes in Karkh area of Khuzdar district.

Police said the two groups had a land dispute. On Tuesday, two men were killed and another seriously injured in an exchange of fire between them. One of the dead was identified as Shah Dost.