ARD endorses charter of democracy

The component parties of the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD) on Thursday endorsed the 'charter of democracy' and called for the government exit. The uncontrollable price spiral was at the top of long list of its failures, they said.
Balochistan ARD President Amanullah Kunrani, who belongs to Jamhoori Watan Party, hoped that the London meeting would focus on the on-going 'military operation' in Balochistan and the burning issue of provincial autonomy. He made it clear that his party had no reservations on putting an end to the military interventions.
To be chaired by Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto, the meeting on July 2 will deliberate upon the charter and formally sign it. The Alliance had no JWP representation during the meeting here. "We could not make it to Islamabad, as the ARD meeting was called on 24-hour notice," JWP Senator Shahid Hasan Bugti told Business Recorder.
The ARD passed two resolutions, strongly advocating for the honourable return of exiled leaders and release of political figures, including Makhdoom Javed Hashmi, Yousaf Raza Gillani and Afaq Ahmad Khan, and reaffirming its commitment to undiluted democracy, decentralisation of power and emancipation of the masses from poverty, ignorance and disease.
ARD Chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim, who presided over the meeting at the Pakistan People's Party Secretariat here, brushed aside a question about PPP buying time for a deal with President General Musharraf, saying that the signing of the charter must remove such apprehensions once for all.
"The military is part of the nation. They should also study the charter with eyes wide open," he said when asked would the Alliance seek the army's signatures on the document.
About the possibility of General Musharraf seeking 're-election' for another term from the present assemblies, he said this showed the government weakness and his lack of trust in the new assemblies. "Musharraf does not believe that those who elected him earlier, will be there again after the elections," he remarked.
Makhdoom Amin Fahim hoped that the Chief Election Commissioner would play his role in impeding a military officer from indulging in politics, and holding free, fair and transparent elections.
He, however, alleged that President Musharraf was involved in pre-poll rigging by patronising Pakistan Muslim League (PML) he himself had formed and was trying to end the party infighting.
The ARD chief blamed dictatorship for the government failures on all fronts, alleging that there was no writ of the centre or provincial governments.
"The price-hike is touching new heights and before the budget, POL and gas prices have been increased to further compound the common man's financial difficulties," he contended.
Makhdoom Amin Fahim said: "There is no justification for the government to continue after its failure to safeguard the masses' fundamental rights and cope with rising unemployment."
He came down heavily on the rulers for what he called suppression of the people by their own forces in Balochistan and demanded immediate halt to it, cautioning the prevailing situation could result in extremely dangerous long-term repercussions.
Referring to the rehabilitation efforts, he charged that the earthquake survivors were running from pillar to post for relief, but no one cared for them.
"The Kashmir policy has been a big flop. Its like, they meet, they discuss and disperse," he contended. He believed that the solution to the multi-faceted crises hinged on holding free, fair and transparent elections, as the repeat of 2002 electoral process would not augur well for the nation.
The ARD, he pointed out, had started activities, including corner meetings, interaction with bar associations to take forward its struggle for restoration of true democracy. Besides, the Alliance leadership was in the process of making contacts with other political parties to garner their support for the charter, which he described as a document for the nation.
However, the veteran politician failed to give a clear-cut date for the launch of a country-wide anti-government movement.
The opposition will take a collective decision, if General Musharraf tried to seek re-election from the present assemblies, he said, referring to constitutional experts' view that he could not be re-elected by the present set-up.
To a question, he said that practically there was no government in Sindh and the coalition partners were engaged in leg-pulling at the cost of the province's interests. He called the PML-MQM row a drama.