LAHORE, Oct 2: The Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy’s mass contact drive will continue as had been planned by its late president, Nawabzada Nasrullah. Leaders of major constituents of the alliance have issued instructions to their respective party workers in this respect.

This was claimed by alliance’s deputy information secretary Munir Ahmad Khan at a press conference here on Thursday. However, he admitted the schedule of the protest campaign had been delayed due to the death of the Nawabzada.

He said both PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto and PML-N patron Nawaz Sharif wanted to continue the mass contact drive, and they had directed their respective workers in this context.

He did not agree with the suggestion that the alliance had become ineffective after the death of the Nawabzada. He also dispelled the impression that there was any difference of opinion between the PPP and the PML-N over the successor to the Nawab’s office. New alliance president will be elected at a meeting scheduled for Oct 7 in Islamabad.

Mr Khan said there was no change in ARD’s stance on the LFO, and that it was ready to hold talks with the government if the LFO would be atop the agenda of any such exercise.