LAHORE, Dec 31: A PML-Q senator says the ARD's boycott of the Senate debate establishes that the opposition alliance regards the 17th constitutional amendment as a step in the right direction but is constrained not to support it because of 'dictation from abroad'.

Senator Kamil Ali Agha said ARD's abstention also amounted to an indirect support to the bill. He reminded the ARD leaders of their past conduct when they were talking of sharing power with Gen Musharraf.

At the time, he said such people saw no problem of supremacy of the constitution and parliament nor any danger to democracy.