LAHORE, March 14: The ARD’s public meeting scheduled for March 23 would be held at Attiq Stadium, the alliance’s provincial president Qasim Zia said here on Monday.

He told a news conference after a meeting of the coalition leaders at the residence of Nawabzada Mansoor Khan that a committee had been set up under the chairmanship of Haji Azizur Rehman Chan to make arrangements. The alliance, he said, initially wanted to hold the meeting at Mochi Gate, but shifted the venue because of the ban imposed by the government to use the place. Qasim believed that it would be a well-attended meeting. The participants criticized Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed for his statement against Dr A.Q Khan. They said the minister was bringing a bad name to the country. The meeting condemned the government for its failure to control price hike, unemployment and lawlessness.

PML-N LEADER: MNA Pervaiz Malik thinks there is a need for a political change in the country or a serious crisis may overtake everything.

In a press statement here on Monday, he said the ruling PML and the PPP-Patriots had outlived their utility.

In his opinion the March 23 public meeting to be held at the Minar-i-Pakistan would play an important role in the restoration of democracy. He believed that the PML-N would emerge as the biggest party in the next elections.