ISLAMABAD Sept 12: The combined opposition will on Tuesday discuss the launching of a campaign to force President Pervez Musharraf into resigning and for the appointment of an independent election commission.

A meeting of the steering committee of the opposition is also likely to discuss a proposal that its legislators resign from all legislatures. The steering committee was set up at the National Leaders Conference, convened by the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal on Sept 4.

Liaquat Baloch, the committee’s coordinator, told Dawn on Monday that there was a near unanimity among opposition parties that free and fair elections were not possible as long as President Musharraf was in power.

Hence ‘we have decided to exert pressure on the president for forcing his resignation’.

Mr Baloch said he was hopeful that a ‘grand opposition alliance’ would take shape soon.

He said the steering committee would also consider a proposal to set up a ‘national leaders council’ that would be empowered to take a decision on a ‘joint struggle’ against the government.

He admitted that the opposition parties were not in a position at present to launch an anti-government movement.