NEW YORK, Dec 4: Alliance for Restoration of Democracy chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim has said the People’s Party Parliamentarians will participate in the next general election if the party is assured that the polls will be fair and transparent.

Speaking at a press conference here before leaving for London, Mr Fahim said participating in fair elections was the only way to restore democracy and the 1973 Constitution.

Commenting on the issue of resignation of Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal lawmakers, the PPP leader said an anti-government campaign would start if the MMA legislators resigned, but the PPP was in favour of participating in free and fair elections to make the country a democratic welfare state.

About the protest campaign of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Fahim said they had used such tactics in the past, but it was an issue among coalition partners of the government.

Answering a question about setting up an interim government before the general election, the ARD chairman said his party would take a decision in this regard after consultations, adding that party chairperson Benazir Bhutto would take a final decision if the PPP would be part of an interim government.

Asked about the party’s stance on the president in army uniform, Mr Fahim said his party had not accepted Gen Pervez Musharraf as president, adding that there was no provision in the 1973 Constitution for that.

Mr Fahim said if the PPP came into power it would not endorse any decision taken by the present government which was against interests of the country.

He said that after consultations with component parties in the ARD, a meeting of the alliance would be convened to discuss the political situation in the country.

The PPP leader condemned the arrest of BNP chief Akhtar Mengal.—Online