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LAHORE, May 9: The ARD has urged the Commonwealth authorities not to allow re-entry of Pakistan into the association before ensuring supremacy of the Constitution and parliament in the country.
In a letter to the Commonwealth secretariat, deputy information secretary Munir Ahmad Khan drew its attention to the continuing "vindictive actions" against political opponents and denial of the right to return to exiled leaders Benazir Bhutto and Shahbaz Sharif.
Citing a US report, he said the press and the judiciary were under pressure from Gen Musharraf who was holding the office of the head of state without shedding his uniform.
He argued that if the Commonwealth recognized the "controlled democracy" in Pakistan, it would encourage army coups in other member states. The ARD, he said, was not opposed to restoration of Pakistan's membership of the Commonwealth. All that it wanted to ensure were pre-conditions of the rule of law and democracy for the purpose.
WELCOME-SHAHBAZ PROGRAMME: The Punjab ARD has described the welcome programme for PML-N president Shahbaz Sharif on May 11 as a full-dress rehearsal for greeting Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif on their return home.
A meeting of the alliance held here on Sunday announced that workers of the component parties would assemble at Nila Gumbad on May 11 (Tuesday) to boost up their struggle against army dictatorship.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, Naveed Chaudhry, Mian Javed Latif, Manzoor Gilani and Munir Gilani said the law of the jungle was prevailing in the country as ARD activists were being arrested and denied democratic rights.
They said reports of Shahbaz's return had baffled the rulers as they had imposed an undeclared emergency in the country before his arrival.
ARRESTS: The Awami Qiadat Party has condemned the government for arresting PML-N activists to prevent them from welcoming their leader, Shahbaz Sharif, on May 11. AQP information secretary Muhammad Mahdi said in a statement that the government was violating human rights as well as democratic norms.
He expressed concern over raids on legislators's residences without search warrants and their arrest without any reason. Demanding release of the captives, he said the government should instead facilitate the welcome programme for Mr Shahbaz to help promote tolerance and a working relationship between the treasury and the opposition.
