March, 21 2005	Monday	10 Safar 1426

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PESHAWAR, March 20: The Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD), which informally met here on Saturday, decided to stay away from the million-man marches launched by the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) to force President Gen Pervez Musharraf to shed his uniform. The decision to stay away from the MMA’s so-called protest marches was taken at a meeting, presided over by Pakistan Muslim League Chairman Raja Zafrul Haq, held at the residence of ARD Secretary General Iqbal Zafar Jhagra where ARD leaders had come to attend a wedding ceremony.

Briefing journalists, Mr Haq said the ARD had decided not to be a part of the MMA’s million-man marches because the religious alliance had ditched the ARD in the past when it bailed out President Gen Musharraf by inserting the 17th amendment into the constitution.

He said it was an informal meeting as most of the leaders failed to turn up owing to inclement weather.

Mr Haq informed the ARD chief, Makhdoom Amin Fahim, in Lahore by telephone about their being absent from the MMA’s protest march.