ISLAMABAD, May 9: An all parties conference of all the anti-government parties will be convened in Lahore on May 15, to review the situation arising out of “fraud referendum,” an ARD leader said.

There was no question of inviting any pro-Musharraf party which had supported him in seeking a fresh term of five years through a fraud referendum, Central Information Secretary of the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy Syed Zafar Ali Shah told Dawn.

ARD, an alliance of over a dozen political parties opposing President Musharraf, was convening a conference of all parties, at which religious political parties included in Majlis Mahaz-i-Amal would also be invited.

Syed Zafar Ali Shah said that the manner in which the referendum was held had created serious doubts about the holding of fair, free and impartial elections under the present regime.

He said at the APC the question whether the political parties should participate in the elections would also be considered.

However, he expressed the fear that the present government could hold partyless elections to block the way of two main political parties having genuine following among the masses to return to the elected institutions.

The ARD leader said that the political mavericks who had recently formed a national alliance were suggesting to the government to hold partyless polls to keep political parties out of the political arena.