LAHORE, July 24: Labour MP from Wolverhamton Rob Marris has told ARD Chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim that the British Foreign Office feels that free and fair election in Pakistan will open the way to “religious extremists” to become members of parliament.

However, the ARD leader said this was a wrong impression and that honest and open polls in Pakistan would bring some democratic party to power.

Mr Fahim met two Labour MPs in London and exchanged views on the political situation in Pakistan. Dr Howard Stoate was the other MP.

The ARD leader said the military dictator had successfully created this impression in the West that free and fair elections would bring “religious extremists” to power. “That’s wrong,” he insisted.

According to Mr Fahim, Morris and Stoate asked him what type of reassurance ARD could provide to the UK foreign office that religious extremists would not come to power in case Britain and the Commonwealth supported the ARD and other democratic forces in Pakistan.

“Will they be able to stop religious extremists, who ultimately became the cause of terrorism all over the world? Will the ARD support anti-terrorism campaign launched by West?” the British MPs asked.

The ARD chairman was accompanied by Mian Shahid Mahmood.

Mr Fahim will meet more MPs in days ahead. — Staff Reporter