LAHORE, Jan 1: Some ARD parties have expressed their reservations about the recent agreement signed by its chief Amin Fahim and PML-N leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan with the MMA for a joint struggle against President Musharraf.

They have reportedly told Mr Fahim in plain terms that leaders of just two parties can't take a policy decision on behalf of all ARD components.

These leaders have also pointed out that the 'track' record of thealliance is not very good, and before going for cooperation with them it should be ensured that the MMA would not betray the ARD in future to get some benefits from the government.

ARD sources say some parties have also taken serious notice of Maulana Fazlur Rehman's meeting with PM Shaukat Aziz. They say although the meeting had not yielded any results, the very willingness of the MMA leader to agree to a meeting with the PM was not a good sign from the ARD's point of view.

Highly placed ARD sources say Fahim agrees with the reservations expressed by various ARD leaders. He thinks that even the PPP and the PML-N would not have easily digested any agreement signed by other ARD components with the MMA. It is said that the matter will come under discussion at a meeting of the heads of the alliance components in Sukkur, scheduled for Sunday (today).

Mr Fahim will brief the participants on the cooperation talks he had held with Qazi Husain Ahmad and Maulana Fazlur Rehman a few days ago. And in case all ARD leaders are present, some future course of action will be decided. Otherwise, it is said, the matter will be deferred till the next session of the 16-party coalition. The ARD had set up a committee comprising Mr Fahim and PML-N chairman Raja Zafarul Haq to discuss the possibility and modalities of cooperation between the two alliances.