ISLAMABAD, June 22: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chairman Raja Zafarul Haq on Wednesday said the party had decided to contest the forthcoming local government elections independently and it would field candidates in all the four provinces.

Briefing newsmen about the decisions taken at a meeting of the party here, the PML-N chairman said though the party would contest the local government elections without entering into alliance with any party, seat adjustments on local levels might be made where deemed fit by the party leadership.

Mr Haq, however, categorically rejected any possibility of making seat adjustment at any level with the ruling PML or any of its coalition partner.

He said a meeting of the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD) would be held on June 27 in Islamabad to discuss the strategy for the local government polls.

PML-N Secretary-General Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, Information Secretary Siddiqul Farooque and deputy opposition leader in the Punjab Assembly Rana Sanaullah were also present.

The PML-N chairman regretted that the chief election commissioner had so far no role in finalizing the schedule for the LG elections. He said the PML-N would fully participate in the local government elections and face the government tactics bravely. He said the law passed by the Punjab government giving powers to the chief minister to take action against Nazims had exposed the true face of the devolution plan.

He also condemned the Punjab Assembly speaker’s decision to suspend 10 opposition members, including party’s parliamentary leader Rana Sanaullah, and termed it unconstitutional and illegal. The meeting also passed a resolution in this regard which states the action reflects anti-democracy and dictatorial character of the ruling party and the speaker of the provincial assembly.

The meeting believes that there is no moral and legal justification for such person to remain in office, says the resolution.

Mr Haq said the PML-N would raise the issue at national and international levels and would continue its protest till the withdrawal of the Punjab Assembly speaker’s ruling.