ARD agrees on seat adjustments in LG polls

Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD) has doubts about the government's intention of holding local government elections in time and announced it had agreed on seat adjustments in the upcoming polls. The alliance has also offered the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) electoral adjustment in this connection.
The ARD met here on Monday with its chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim in the chair, and discussed overall political situation, particularly the forthcoming local government elections.
Opposition members of the Punjab Assembly, Qasim Zia, Farzana Raja, and Uzma Bukhari also attended the meeting on special invitation.
Briefing newsmen, ARD secretary-general Iqbal Zafar Jhagra expressed doubts over the government intention of holding the local government polls in time.
The alliance is opposed to the postponement of the elections, as the government is afraid of the opposition's popularity, Jhagra maintained.
However, he said the ARD demands free and fair general elections instead of local government elections to bring true democracy in the country.
"We want free and fair general elections in the country. But one thing is very clear: that we will never let the government hold elections without participation of our real leadership," Jhagra vowed.
He demanded of the government to allow Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif to come back and contest in the fresh general elections.
"We will forcefully foil government's attempts to hold elections without the country's most popular leadership," the ARD leader threatened.
To a question about the ARD's strategy for the forthcoming local government polls, Iqbal Zafar said they have agreed on seat-to-seat adjustment.
He said the MMA would also be approached for seat adjustment to ensure government's defeat in the elections.
Replying to another query, Jhagra categorically ruled out any possibility of joining hands with the ruling coalition in upcoming polls.
When asked about the formation of a grand alliance with the MMA, Jhagra said the ARD was still awaiting MMA's response. "We have already set up a two-member committee to negotiate with the MMA," he added.
The ARD also strongly condemned the act of Punjab assembly speaker Afzal Sahi, who has suspended membership of nearly 10 opposition lawmakers.
Iqbal Zafar Jhagra demanded restoration of membership of opposition lawmakers, otherwise the world fora would be approached.
He said it was an unconstitutional and illegal act, adding their alliance would contact diplomats over the suspension of their party members.