LAHORE, Oct 14: Differences among various components of the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy are increasing with the passage of time. For all practical purposes, the existence of the coalition is now confined to paper.

Two important components of the alliance, the Pakistan People’s Party and the Awami National Party, are already supporting the government’s policy on Afghanistan.

The Pakistan Muslim League, another major component, is demanding revival of the dissolved parliament which is not acceptable to Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan, the architect of the alliance. The Nawabzada has been consistently saying that the assemblies, dissolved with the overthrow of the Nawaz Sharif government in October 1999, were the product of rigged elections.

As things stand, some ARD parties are likely remain in the alliance only until a deal is struck with the government. There is a lack of trust among the allies.

There are also indications that notwithstanding their public position, a number of parties are willing to allow the government to hold elections according to the timeframe set by the Supreme Court.