LAHORE, Oct 2: The PML-N will observe a protest week from Oct 12 to 20 against ousting of the party’s government through a military coup four years ago on Oct 12.

Punjab PML-N Secretary Khwaja Saad Rafiq said at a press conference here on Thursday protest meetings would be held in all the major towns to mark the week. The schedule of the meetings would be announced within a couple of days, he added.

He said the party, along with other components of the ARD, would also set up protest camps at all the district and tehsil headquarters on 12th.

To pay tribute to the late ARD president, Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan, the party would also hold references for the departed soul in Lahore, Rawalpindi and Multan to be addressed by the central leadership of the alliance, he said.

The first such reference would be held at the Rawalpindi Press Club, and its date would be announced in a couple of days.

Alleging that the government wanted a rift in the alliance, he said despite all ideological differences with the PPP, his party would side with it in “fight for democracy.”

Denying reports of a contest between the PML-N and the PPP for the top slot of the ARD, he said his party was not a candidate for the office. However, he said if the other constituents of the alliance offered the office to the PML-N, it would consider it.

Commenting on the Pakistan-US extradition pact, Mr Rafiq said any agreement that would be signed without taking parliament into confidence would have no legal status. He believed that the deal would benefit only the US.

The PML-N leader also opposed the Pakistan-India-US commission, saying in case of border tension between the two neighbours this kind of body would be damaging for national interests. —Staff Reporter