ARD stages protest procession

Published February 23, 2004

QUETTA, Feb 22: The Balochistan chapter of the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy took out a procession on Friday to protest against the government policies.

A large number of leaders and workers of the ARD component parties took part in the procession which started from the Meezan Chowk after Friday prayers and marched through main city roads.

Speaking on the occasion, the ARD leaders, including Senator Amanullah Kanrani (JWP), former senator Khuda-i-Noor (PML-N) and Sakhi Sultan, criticized the military-led regime and said because of generals' involvement in domestic politics the country was facing constitutional, political and democratic crises that had hampered its economic progress.

The ARD leaders stated that the people were facing unemployment, price-hike and insecurity due to unwise steps of the military regime. They alleged that all important institutions like the election commission, parliament and the district government system had been made subservient to President Musharraf.

The leaders maintained that the ARD had launched a protest movement to oust President Musharraf in order to save the country, and said that it was the responsibility of all political parties to resist the dictatorial methods of the military ruler otherwise the country's integrity would be in danger.