PESHAWAR, Nov 22: The Awami National Party (ANP) is likely to support the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD) in its forthcoming anti-government movement scheduled to be launched from Peshawar on Dec 6, according to party sources.
While ANP sources described their future cooperation with the ARD as a 'working relationship' to restore 'undiluted democracy', ARD leader Farhatullah Babar said: "The ANP would join us because the alliance considers its support very important for achieving common goals."
"The matter has already been discussed by the high command of the two sides before Eid and a formal agreement to develop a working relationship between the ARD and ANP is likely to take place in a few days," said an important leader of the ANP, requesting anonymity.
Confirming the report, Pukhtun nationalist force's additional secretary-general Afrasyab Khattak said formal discussions between the two sides would shortly take place to develop understanding to pursue common goals.
"We will formally discuss the matter with the ARD leadership in the near future to reach some understanding with the alliance," said Mr Khattak. Similar views were expressed by party's vice president Haji Mohammed Adeel who said that before entering into a formal agreement, the ARD had to give some assurances "by making a statement in public".
"We have a clear stand on provincial autonomy and would like the ARD to give us specific assurances in public before we lend them support in their anti-government agitation," said Mr Adeel. But according to Senator Farhatullah Baber, spokesman for the PPPP, the two sides had already taken a decision and now only nitty-gritty details of their agreement had to be worked out during a formal meeting between the two sides at Wali Bagh, the residence of ANP's senior leader Wali Khan in district Charsadda.
The gap between the two sides narrowed last month when ANP chief Asfandyar Wali, at a press conference in Peshawar, assured his party's support to 'all democratic forces' of the country for restoring true democracy in the country and making President Musharraf to shed his military uniform.
His announcement was welcomed by the ARD chief Amin Fahim who, in a press release, had expressed the hope to launch a joint struggle with the help of the ANP to pursue their common goal of restoring 'true democracy'.
ANP sources said that after exchanging 'assurances' to each other through media, the two sides had held informal discussions at the higher level and its was decided that after Eid formal a agreement would be made.
Senator Baber said that a broad understanding between the two sides had already taken place and now a top-level ARD delegation would shortly undertake a visit to Wali Bagh to meet ANP chief Asfandyar Wali.
"A date of the delegation's visit has yet to be decided, but the scheduled meeting would take place in near future," said Mr Baber. In reply to a question, Mr Baber said the ARD considered ANP's support as vital for launching an effective campaign against the government.
"The more it [ARD] is broader, the stronger it would be," Senator Baber expressed the hope. Talking to Dawn, Afrasyab Khattak said his party had already announced to go along with all democratic forces for the restoration of undiluted democracy in the country.
PONAM: The ANP leader, requesting anonymity, said that apart from the Pukhtun nationalist force, the Pakistan Oppressed Nations Movement (Ponam), comprising nationalist forces of Balochistan, the NWFP and Sindh, would also join hands with the ARD.
"They would also evolve a working relationship with the ARD before the launch of its anti-government drive," said a leader of the ANP. He said contacts between the ARD and Ponam had already been established and the two sides were about to develop an understanding well before Dec 6.
In a related development, the ANP is also chalking out a plan to arrange a series of public meetings in different parts of the Frontier in line with its announced move of launching mass contact campaign after Eid to mobilize public opinion against the construction of a large dam at Kalabagh in the Peshawar valley, and against President Gen Pervez Musharraf's decision to continue in army uniform for an unlimited period.
ANP leaders said the party leadership discussed the matter on Sunday and after holding a couple of more rounds of talks, it would make public its plan about the mass contact campaign during the next few days.