QUETTA, June 5: The president of the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD), Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan, has announced that the alliance will not withdraw its demand of lifting the ban on political activities as a condition to meet President Gen Pervez Musharraf.

He assured Jamhoori Watan Party Chief Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti on the phone here on Wednesday that the ARD would stick to its Lahore Declaration, calling for lifting the ban on political activities, establishment of an interim government and an announcement of free and fair elections in the country.

Mr Khan discussed with Bugti the invitation the president has extended to the ARD and some other opposition parties for meeting.

According to sources in the JWP, Nawab Bugti opposed to meet President Musharraf, saying that his party considered the military rule to be illegal and unconstitutional, ruling out any contact or meeting with the military rulers.