ISLAMABAD, Dec 17: Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD) Chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim has held the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal responsible for the present political crisis in the country and said the alliance caused a serious damage to the opposition's struggle by supporting the 17th constitutional amendment.

"A serious dent was caused in the ranks of political opposition when the MMA abandoned the joint struggle against Gen Pervez Musharraf midway and lent support to the Legal Framework Order (LFO) of the regime," the ARD chairman said in a statement here on Friday while commenting on MMA chief Qazi Hussain Ahmad's allegation that the ARD was dividing the opposition parties.

"Had the MMA not deserted the joint struggle at that time, the political scenario today would have been totally different," Mr Fahim said. The ARD chief said despite having serious reservations on the 17th amendment, the ARD was cooperating with the religious parties' alliance and other groups waging a struggle against the military rule of Gen Musharraf.

"I would urge the MMA chief to think again whether it was the ARD or the MMA that had divided the opposition which resulted in the weakening of the joint struggle against the military dictatorship," he said.

Mr Fahim pointed out that the ARD participated in the public meetings organized by the MMA to mobilize people against the president for holding the office of the army chief.

He said it was the MMA which changed its stance and lent its shoulder for the passage of the undemocratic piece of law, which allowed the president to keep his army office, and had resulted in the present crisis. Mr Fahim expressed his resolve that the ARD would continue its struggle for the cause of democracy and for restoration of parliament's sovereignty.