26 October 2004	Tuesday	11 Ramazan 1425

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window)

ISLAMABAD, Oct 25: ARD chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim has said that the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy will welcome, unconditionally, the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal's cooperation in its movement against the government.

Mr Fahim was commenting on reports at an Iftar dinner here on Monday that the ARD wanted the MMA to apologize for its role in the passage of the 17th Amendment before offering to join the movement the ARD plans to start after the Ramazan.

He said there was no question of any apology as people in both alliances were politicians and added that both the ARD and MMA had already staged joint protests inside the parliament.

He said although it was true that the MMA's support at the time of the 17th Amendment had strengthened Gen Musharraf's rule yet, he added, the ARD would welcome every party that would come forward to join hands in its struggle for the restoration of a genuine democracy in the country.

In reply to a question, Mr Fahim said no decision had been made regarding the resignation by opposition legislators. "When the time will come, the decision to tender resignation will be taken after detailed consultations between the parties," he said, adding "time is not ripe for such a step."

About the government's failure to maintain quorum in the National Assembly, the ARD chief said it showed non-seriousness on the part of the treasury members. He said the opposition believed that its no-confidence motion against the speaker had succeeded.

Answering a question whether President Musharraf was acceptable to the ARD without his uniform, he said they would accept only that person as the president who would get himself elected in the manner prescribed in the constitution.

He said the ARD would continue its struggle till the restoration of a true democracy and sovereignty of parliament.