This was announced by ARD chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim while briefing journalists about the decisions taken at an emergency meeting of the alliance held at the central secretariat of the PML-N here on Sunday.
PML-N chairman Raja Zafarul Haq, senior vice-president Syed Zafar Ali Shah and ARD Coordinator Malik Hakmin Khan were present on the occasion.
Mr Fahim said the APC had been convened to allow opposition parties to evolve a joint line of action to counter “the worst manipulation and interference in the local elections by Gen Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, the chief ministers of Punjab and Sindh and other government functionaries”.
The ARD chairman said the government had been making tall claims of holding free, fair and transparent elections in the country. “However, at present, the government is carrying out a transparent pre-poll rigging,” he alleged.
He regretted that the chief election commissioner was not taking any action despite the fact that media was constantly reporting the use of state machinery and official resources in the election campaign by the candidates backed by the government. On the other hand, he alleged, a large number of Awam Dost candidates and their supporters had been kidnapped by police in Sindh.
He said Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz announced a Rs10 billion package while addressing a public meeting in Hyderabad after the announcement of the election schedule. Similarly, he said, Gen Musharraf had attended a public meeting in Swat on Saturday where he asked the people to vote for a particular group.
Moreover, he alleged, federal ministers were running the campaigns of the candidates by using official cars with full protocol in their constituencies.
The ARD chief said that the opposition leaders had pointed out these violations to the chief election commissioner several times but no action had been taken. “Either the CEC has no powers or he is not using his powers. What is the use of the election commission if it can’t take action against violators of the election code?” Mr Fahim asked.
He demanded that a full time chief election commissioner should be appointed having full powers.
The ARD leader also expressed concern over the Sindh government decision to allow candidates and political leaders to hire the services of armed private security guards. This decision, he said, could lead to serious repercussions and create a law and order situation, particularly in Karachi.
Responding to a question, Mr Fahim said despite unprecedented pre-poll rigging and use of official machinery and violation of all norms of democracy, the ARD would not boycott the elections and face all odds courageously.
Replying to another question, he said all those parties, including the MMA, which were opposed to the present rulers would be invited to the APC.