09 November 2004	Tuesday	25 Ramazan 1425

KARACHI, Nov 8: Makhdoom Amin Fahim, chief of the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD), said on Monday that after the government-sponsored bill allowing Gen Musharraf to hold military and civilian posts simultaneously , a civilian member of the parliament could also aspire for the COAS post.

Talking to newsmen at the residence of the PDP's Basharat Mirza, Makhdoom Fahim sarcastically said, "the opposition has decided to put up Makhdoom Javed Hashmi as an aspirant for the post."

If the COAS could hold the office of the president, why could not a civilian member of parliament hold the post of the army chief? the ARD chief asked.

He said there was no need for the formation of a grand national alliance because both the ARD and MMA agreed on the one-point agenda of launching a campaign to oust a military dictator and restore undiluted democratic dispensation in the country.

He said that after the Eid, a decision would be taken on how to launch the struggle and what should be its direction. He said that he had recently talked to Qazi Hussain Ahmad on the matter.

Makhdoom Fahim said there were no preconditions for any party to join hands with the ARD which was ready to have all the democratic forces on board in the struggle against a dictator.

In this context, he pointed out that the PONM and several other parties were in touch with the alliance.

He observed that the MMA had extended support to the ruling party in getting the 17th amendment approved on Gen Musharraf's commitment that he would give up the uniform. However, the MMA also had now realized that Gen Musharraf had backed out on the deal.

The ARD chief reaffirmed his faith in the 1973 Constitution and said the LFO had tarnished its image as it was a rude deviation.

In reply to a question, he said: "Our contacts with the government at the moment are at zero level." He said that the struggle against the government was being launched with the blessings of Ms Benazir Bhutto.

Earlier, Makhdoom Amin Fahim visited residence of the late PPP leader Munawwar Suhrawardy. After offering his condolences, he remarked that the government deserved condemnation for its failure to apprehend the killers.

"The rulers cannot escape wrath of people if they failed to bring to justice killers of Munawwar Suhrawardy, Abdullah Murad, Mufti Shamzai, Munawwar Bangash, Mufti Jameel and others."