LAHORE, Aug 29: The Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy on Monday rejected the results of the first two phases of the local body elections, but deferred till September 3 its decision on whether to contest or boycott the crucial third and the last phase in which nazims of districts, tehsils and towns would be chosen.
On Sept 3, leaders of the opposition’s biggest coalition would meet in Islamabad after taking mandate from their respective parties during the intervening five days, and take necessary decisions on all subjects, including the need for launching another round of anti-government movement.
ARD Chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim presided over the meeting, whose decisions were announced at a news conference by Secretary- General Iqbal Zafar Jhagra and Information Secretary Syed Zafar Ali Shah.
Almost simultaneously, leaders of the Lahore PPP, the PML-N and the MMA held a news conference in the city to announce that they would put up joint candidates for towns and district nazims to give the government’s nominees a tough time. They said contests for the third phase would be one-to-one.
According to Mr Jhagra, the ARD leaders endorsed the PPP’s decision to launch a movement in Sindh from Aug 31.
He explained the alleged rigging carried out before, during and after the polls and said it was unprecedented in the history of the country. The ARD would not accept any future elections under the supervision of President Musharraf, he said, underlining the need for the formation of a government of national consensus and appointment of an independent and powerful chief election commissioner to ensure the transparency and impartiality of the process.
The ARD leader said if rigging was not stopped, the opposition alliance would be forced to demand the elections under the supervision of the United Nations.
He also made it clear that the opposition would not let the government hold the general election if exiled former prime ministers Mian Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto were not allowed to return home and take part in the electoral process.
It is said that Information Secretary Syed Zafar Ali Shah, who is a leader of the PML-N, proposed the Sept 3 meeting in view of a conference convened by the Jamaat-i-Islami for the following day. He argued that the ARD should participate in the Jamaat’s conference with a clear stand on all issues.
Some ARD leaders are of the view that the legislators should quit their assembly seats to mount pressure on the government to come to terms. However, according to a participant, the PPP is not very serious even to consider this option, notwithstanding their press statements to the contrary.
According to a participant, Mr Shah said the opposition parties should prepare a concrete programme to accomplish their targets as mere statements not backed by practical steps bring a bad name to the opposition parties.
Mr Jhagra told a reporter that people would have to be prepared before launching a movement against the government.
Mansoor Khan, Nawaz Gondal, Amanullah Khan, Saifullah Saif and Pir Nau Behar Shah were also present at the news conference held at the residence of Istiqlal Party chief Manzoor Gilani. The PPP was represented by Jehangir Badr, Qasim Zia, Nafees Siddiqui and Naveed Chaudhry. The PML-N was represented by Raja Zafrul Haq and Zaeem Qadri.
