08 March 2005	Tuesday	26 Muharram 1426

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ISLAMABAD, March 7: The Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD) and the Mutahidda Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) on Monday reached an accord for launching a joint struggle to force Gen Pervez Musharraf to quit the presidency and the army chief's offices.

The leadership of the MMA and ARD agreed on three objectives: getting rid of Gen Musharraf both as president and the chief of the army staff, restoration of 1973 Constitution as it stood on Oct 12, 1999, and setting up of an independent and autonomous election commission.

The decision was announced after a meeting of the leadership of the two alliances held at the residence of PML-N chairman Raja Zafarul Haq. To achieve these objectives, the two sides decided to constitute a committee which will be announced by MMA President Qazi Hussain Ahmed and ARD chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim in a few days.

According to MMA and ARD leaders, the opposition alliances did not touch upon their difference of opinion on the next election schedule as the ARD wants it to be held this year while the MMA favours completion of the tenure of present assemblies.

One of the participants of the meeting told Dawn that it was obvious that both alliances would soften their positions when they reached a broader consensus on other points.

The leaders of the two alliances Raja Zafarul Haq, Liaqat Baloch and Hafiz Hussain Ahmed told Dawn that the meeting was in continuation of earlier meetings which had prepared the consensus three-point agenda.

The PML-N chairman said that there was no difference of opinion between the two alliances that Gen Musharraf should not be allowed to continue in any of the two offices and that there was no option left for the opposition but to join hands against the military dictator.

The heads of both alliances, Mr Amin Fahim and Qazi Hussain Ahmed, did not turn up but they remained in touch with their respective leadership to keep themselves abreast of the proceedings of the meeting.

MMA leader Liaquat Baloch said the leaders of two sides discussed all disputed points a frank and free atmosphere, including PPP's overtures with Gen Musharraf and MMA component JUI(F)'s latest resolution asking the alliance to allow Maulana Fazlur Rahman and NWFP Chief Minister Akram Durrani to attend future meetings of the National Security Council. He said all leaders were unanimous that not only Gen Musharraf should quit both offices but army's entry into country's politics should be banned forever.

The leaders were of the view that armed forces' role was clearly stated in the 1973 constitution and it was meant to safeguard borders of the country and they were not authorized by the constitution to meddle in politics of the country as had been the case in all modern democracies of the world.

The leaders of the two alliances firmly decided that no army general would ever be accepted as future ruler after Gen Pervez Musharraf quit his offices. They were also of the unanimous opinion that instead of discussing the PCO, the LFO and the 17th Amendment the opposition should demand simply the restoration of the 1973 Constitution as it existed before the military takeover in 1999.

The participants agreed that no elections in the presence of Gen Pervez Musharraf could be free and fair and hence they will not be accepted. Earlier, responding to queries of MMA leaders, the PPP leadership made it clear that the on-going reconciliation talks with the government were not aimed at striking any deal. They claimed that everything would be made public when it took any shape.

The MMA also assured participants of the meeting that the decision of alliance's supreme council would prevail and that the JUI(F) resolution would have no bearing on the decision of the alliance not to attend the NSC meeting.