ISLAMABAD, Oct 31: The Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD) has nominated Aitezaz Ahsan and Syed Zafar Ali Shah to defend its president Makhdoom Javed Hashmi in a mutiny case instituted against him by the government.

This was announced by ARD Chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim while briefing reporters about the decisions taken at a hurriedly-called meeting of the heads of the component parties of the alliance here on Friday.

Mr Fahim also announced expanding the scope of the protest against the arrest of Mr Hashmi and said protests would also be held in all the four provincial assemblies. He said the provincial chapters of the ARD had been authorized to chalk out the protest strategy on their own.

Mr Fahim said the government had arrested Mr Hashmi to sabotage the opposition’s protest campaign. He said the ARD had already announced to launch a mass mobilization campaign after Eid.