ARD body to prepare white paper on pre-poll rigging

The Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD) on Monday formed an eight-member committee to draft a white paper, highlighting the 'pre-poll rigging and anti-unconstitutional actions of the government'.
The committee, comprising Zafar Ali Shah, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Farhatullah Babar, Nayyar Bokhari, Siddiqul Farooq, Dr Tariq Fazal, Mufti Ferozuddin Hazarvi and Aamir Mirza would also prepare the draft (joint) declaration for the All Parties Conference, called by the alliance on August 11.
The informal meeting, chaired by ARD Chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim here at Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) Media Centre, decided that all political parties, Pakistan Bar Council, Supreme Court Bar Council, human right organisations, journalist unions and labour unions would be invited to the conference.
However, the meeting made it clear that no party from the ruling coalition, including the Pakistan Muslim League would be given invitation to be part of the APC.
Makhdoom Amin Fahim and Raja Zafarul Haq would invite the participants on telephone, followed by formal invitations in this connection.
"The committee will issue the white paper to expose the pre-poll rigging, anti-democratic and unconstitutional actions of the rulers and the indifference of the Election Commission towards pre-poll rigging," Siddiqul Farooq, Central Information Secretary of the PML (Nawaz) said.
He pointed out that despite the glaring instances of misuse of the State machinery, the Election Commission still sought proof when any opposition party approached it for necessary action thereon.
Earlier, an emergency meeting of the alliance expressed deep shock and sorrow over the demise of Khadimul Harmain Sharifain King Fahd bin Abdel Aziz.
A release issued by the PML (Nawaz) Media Centre, said the ARD leaders expressed deep sense of loss on the death of the Saudi Arabian king and paid glowing tributes to him for his services to the cause of Islam and the Muslim Ummah.
Those who attended the condolence meeting were Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Raja Zafarul Haq, Senator Raza Rabbani, Mohammad Siddiqul Farooq, Zafar Ali Shah, Abdul Qadir Khamosh, Nawaz Gondal and others.