September 06, 2006	Wednesday	Sha'aban 12, 1427

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LAHORE, Sept 5: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif says both the ruling coalition and the opposition parties should resign from their assembly seats simultaneously to express solidarity with the people of Balochistan over the killing of Nawab Akbar Bugti.

Talking to Dawn on Tuesday, he said Bugti was a great leader and all parties should understand how serious effects would his killing have on the federation.

He was asked to comment on the MMA’s Tuesday decision to link the tendering of their resignations with the adoption of the government-sponsored bill which amends the Hudood laws.

The exiled leader said some top government functionaries had claimed that the Balochistan government, of which the MMA was also a part, had been taken into confidence before launching the operation as a result of which the JWP president had been killed. This statement, he said, made it obligatory for the MMA to clarify its position. He said if the MMA had not been taken into confidence, it should let the nation know that it was not board.

He reiterated that resignations from assemblies was the best course for the opposition parties to follow at this juncture. But, he said, if other parties had some reservations, the PML-N would still continue to speak the truth.

He said he was in contact with those who had reservations on the subject.

When it was pointed out that the PPP, an ally of the PML-N in the ARD, was also supporting the bill which the MMA was averse to, the former prime minister said parties in the ARD were united only on the issue of the restoration of undiluted democracy and the Constitution, and every party was free to have its own policy on other issues.

Mr Sharif said a clear decision on the formation of a grand opposition alliance had been taken by the ARD. He said it was possible that Amin Fahim was unable to recollect such a decision.

Mr Fahim had said a few days ago that no proposal was under consideration to set up a grand alliance comprising the ARD and the MMA. He had also made it clear that the two alliances would work from their separate platforms — although their objectives would be similar.

The PML-N leader said events were taking place very fast, and political parties should keep pace with them. In case they failed, the situation could get out of control, he warned.