KARACHI, Sept 9: The Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy on Thursday called for coordinated efforts by all the democratic forces for the restoration of the constitution.

Leaders of the alliance said at a meeting of the ARD, Sindh, that violation of the constitution would not be accepted. They vowed to continue their struggle for end to autocratic rule in the country and restoration of genuine democracy.

The workers of all the component parties of the ARD would play their role for the restoration of genuine democracy, they said. Sindh ARD President Zain Ansari said President Gen Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and former premiers Mir Zafarullah Jamali and Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain had failed to provide relief to the people.

"Only a genuine democratic government can understand the masses' issues and resolve those," he said. He said the government had given nothing to the people except unemployment, price hike, terrorism and worsening law and order situation.

The ARD adopted resolutions demanding permission to former prime ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif to return to the country and release of Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) leader Makhdoom Javed Hashmi, former senator Asif Zardari and Afaq Ahmed and Amir Khan of the Muhajir Qaumi Movement. It condemned the large size of the federal cabinet and the government's attitude towards various national issues. -PPI