August 13, 2007	Monday	Rajab 28, 1428

LAHORE, Aug 12: Mian Nawaz Sharif is not willing to characterize the PPP as an ally or a rival of the PML-N or whether the ARD is still in existence or not.

He told Dawn in an interview that in the changed situation the status of the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy was not as important as that of the All Parties Democratic Movement and that all opposition parties were continuing their struggle from this platform.

Asked specifically if the PML-N regarded the PPP as its ally or a rival, the former prime minister said: “We think all political parties should struggle from the same platform. Those who are in favour of democracy should not side with dictatorship. All democratic forces should unreservedly work for extirpation of dictatorship”.

About the efforts being made by former prime minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali for uniting all PML factions, Mr Sharif said he had seen such reports only in the media and did not know who the leader from Balochistan was talking to.

He made it clear that he could not join hands with those who had played a role to strengthen ‘dictatorship’.

In an obvious reference to the ruling party, Mr Sharif said only a few individuals were left with it and they were the ones who were supporting the illegitimate rule of Gen Musharraf. “They can’t be called a party. They are a group of a few individuals. Our party can go without them”.

When his attention was drawn to a claim by Makhdoom Javed Hashmi that some 50 per cent ruling party legislators had handed over their resignations to the PML-N leadership and were ready to change loyalties, Mr Sharif said: “Of course, some ruling party people are ready to join us, but I’ll not like to disclose their numbers”.

The PML-N, he said, was willing to take back such people who had not harmed the party even when they were not with it. —Ashraf Mumtaz