Pakistan Muslim League (N) on Friday refused to attending the meeting of Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD), leaving PPP alone as a major component of the multi-party alliance. The meeting held here with Makhdoom Amin Fahim in the chair was attended by representatives of seven of the 10 allied parties.
Which included Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadith, Shia Political Party, National Christian Party, Pakistan Solidarity Front, Muslim League (Qasim), Muslim League (Qayyum), Islamic Democratic Front, while its key components PML-N, Pakistan Democratic Party and Jamhoori Watan Party did not attend the meeting.
The alliance vowed to carry on struggle against the dictatorship and for restoration of 'real' democracy in the country. A meeting of the alliance was convened at London on October 3 to formulae future strategy and consider prevailing political situation in the country.
It is learnt that ARD chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim contacted Raja Zafarul Haq and other senior leaders of PML-N and invited them to the meeting, but they avoided to attend the meeting saying that their party has left with no justification to go ahead with PPP after violation of 'Charter of Democracy' singed by former Prime Ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, wherein they had pledged not to hold dialogue or negotiation with military dictators and usurpers in any way directly or indirectly.
After establishment of All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM) in London on July 10, the fate of ARD became more miserable and the APDM emerged as vibrant political alliance MMA and other opposition parties to fight against what they called dictatorship and get the nation rid from military rule.
On the other hand, PPP's clandestine dialogue for power sharing with Musharraf was on the cards at the same time. "PML-N has nothing to do with the ARD after Benazir Bhutto's indulgence in dialogue for a power-sharing deal with military government. We would continue our struggle against dictatorship from the platform of APDM", said Raja Zafarul Haq, chairman PML-N here.
However, responding to the queries of mediamen, Amin Fahim dispelled the impression that PML-N parted its way from ARD and argued that its leadership could not attend the meeting of the alliance owing to their engagement in the Supreme Court He further claimed that ARD could remain intact sans PML-N as there were a number of other opposition parties in the alliance to fight for restoration of democracy, revival of institutions and supremacy of law.
Fahim insisted that alliance could not be termed dysfunctional without of some of its component parties. Besides, he said, the meeting also backed the PPP's presidential candidate in the presidential election.
To a question, Fahim said that PPP stands by its decision that it would not cast vote in favour of General Musharraf in the presidential election, adding the PPP still had the option of tendering resignations against the decision.
To another query that would PPP withdraw its candidates in favour of General Musharraf, Fahim said that Party's decision would be acceptable to him, adding he was nominated for the presidential election by party chairperson.