ISLAMABAD, July 17: The Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy will move a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz in the first week of August even if it does not get support from other opposition parties, says Pakistan Muslim League (N) information secretary Ahsan Iqbal.

Talking to Dawn here on Monday, the PML-N leader said the ARD would start making contacts with other opposition parties next week to seek support for its decision to move the no-confidence motion.

“We are hopeful that other parties will join us and even if they prefer to keep themselves away the ARD is committed to moving the no-confidence motion against the prime minister,” Mr Iqbal said in response to a question.

Mr Iqbal said ARD secretary-general Iqbal Zafar Jhagra had contacted leaders of major opposition groups and apprised them of the decisions taken by the alliance’s leadership in the July 2 meeting in London.

He said Mr Jhagra was expected to return to the country in a couple of days, after which the ARD leaders would meet other opposition leaders to seek their support.

The PML-N leader said the alliance had decided to move the motion to register its protest against the government’s failed policies.

Earlier, speaking at a news conference, Mr Iqbal asked President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Aziz to resign in view of the Supreme Court’s decision on the privatisation of the Pakistan Steel Mills.

He held Gen Musharraf responsible for the flawed privatisation policy, saying that the government could not take any step without his permission.

He urged the National Accountability Bureau to initiate action against the president and the prime minister over the steel mills sale, sugar crisis and cement crises and the stock market scam.

Mr Iqbal said the names of Gen Musharraf and Mr Aziz should be put on the exit control list so that they could be tried according to the law after the change of the regime.

The PML-N leader criticised the government’s foreign policy and said that despite being a frontline partner in the war against terrorism, India and Afghanistan were once again accusing Pakistan of sponsoring terrorism.

Mr Iqbal said the military operations in Balochistan and the tribal areas were weakening the federation.

He also criticised PML chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi for supporting the military rule. He said they were not the true representatives of the people of Punjab.