The Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD) is facing a clear split and division on the issue of supporting MMA's call of the 'million march' at Lahore on March 23 and the wheel jam strike across the country on April 2 or otherwise. Former prime minister and PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto asked her party men to stay away from the MMA's protest drive.
Despite mediation by Makhdoom Amin Fahim, the PPP Chairperson is still reluctant to depend upon the religious parties alliance, the MMA, keeping in view its support to the government on validation of the controversial Legal Framework Order (LFO) and adoption of the 17th Constitutional Amendment.
Contrary to Benazir Bhutto, another former prime minister and PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif, however, supported the MMA-led protest drive, and asked his party men to actively participate in the MMA's 'million march' and the strike.
The PPI learnt that PML-N Chairman Raja Zafarul Haq spoke with Makhdoom Amin Fahim in details and Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan met PPP central leader Syed Khurshid Shah in a bid to extend ARD's joint support to the MMA-led protest drive.
Meanwhile, acting PML-N Parliamentary leader in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said that his party would not wait for the ARD for too long to launch protest movement against the present regime.
In an interview, Chaudhry Nisar said the PML-N still stands by its principled stance of October 12, 1999 that military action was unconstitutional and illegal.
He warned that the PML-N would not wait for the decision of the ARD for too long, saying: "We would not sit as silent spectators, rather activate all parties, including the MMA on one platform to launch a forceful struggle against the present regime."
Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan hoped that the ARD would take a final decision to get rid of the present 'undemocratic and unconstitutional set-up'.
He warned that the PML-N taking along the MMA and other parties would struggle against the government's steps of making jokes of Islamic principles.'
On its part, the MMA has expressed thanks and gratitude to the PML-N for its support to the MMA-led protest drive.
Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) President Qazi Hussain Ahmad on Tuesday thanked former prime minister and PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif for support to the MMA's call of 'million march' at Lahore on March 23 and the wheel jam strike on April 2.
Addressing a protest caravan of the MMA at Liaquat Bagh prior to its departure for Gujranwala here, he said PML-N's support would give a big boost to the MMA's protest drive against the present regime.