ISLAMABAD, Nov 2: The Alliance for Restoration of Democracy and the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal will launch a joint anti-government campaign after Eid, says Alliance chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim.

Speaking at an Iftar-dinner hosted by vice-president of the People's Youth Organization Shaukat Swati here on Tuesday, Mr Fahim said formal talks between the two alliances would soon be held to finalize the agitation plan.

"Both (alliances) are moving in the right direction and we will soon launch a joint struggle with the support of other political parties," Mr Fahim said in response to a question regarding possibility of future cooperation between the two alliances.

Mr Fahim said that formal talks with the MMA had not been held because its leadership was not in Islamabad. He said Qazi Hussain Ahmed had gone to Nowshera because of the death of his brother and Maulana Fazlur Rahman was abroad. He expressed the hope that the ARD and the MMA would hold talks on modalities of the movement after the return of Maulana Fazlur Rahman.

Commenting on Gen Pervez Musharraf's statement in which he had expressed doubts about the functioning of democracy after the removal of his uniform, Mr Fahim said the General should know that democracy and the uniform were two different things. "There cannot be democracy under uniform," he added.

Terming the government's decision to bar Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif from attending their father's burial 'immoral', the ARD chief said the alliance had refrained from politicizing the matter by not issuing a call for a protest drive.

Referring to PML secretary-general Senator Mushahid Hussain's statement suggesting the possibility of releasing Asif Zardari, Yousuf Gillani and Javed Hashmi, Mr Fahim said that Mr Mushahid's statement was based on principles. However, he said, the statement was disowned by the prime minister next day. "This is their internal fight and we don't want to get involved in it," he said.

Senator Raza Rabbani defended the opposition's muted protest in the Senate over the uniform bill and said unlike the National Assembly, the Senate chairman had provided "ample" opportunity to members to take part in the debate on the bill.