ARD seeks MQM support against military interventions

16 Apr, 2006

Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) on Saturday called upon the Muttahida Qaumi Movement to cooperate with the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy for getting rid of military interventions.
"We invite Altaf Hussain to side with ARD and other opposition parties to stop the military and intelligence agencies' interventions," central leader of PML-N Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said during a news conference here at the party's media office.
He said that the opposition parties were chalking out a charter under which politician would be bound not to contact or invite the military to send an elected government home.
"MQM is invited to cooperate with us for political stability, and getting rid of the military rule, " he emphasised.
The PML-N leader made it clear that no decision on boycott of general elections or formation of electoral alliance under the banner of ARD had been taken so far.
All options, Chaudhry Nisar added, were open and the party would take a decision on whether or not to be part of an election alliance at its central working committee's meeting. However, he said that seat-to-seat adjustments could be made with any party, not enjoying the army or intelligence agencies' backing.
He alleged that the rulers were representatives of 'foreign masters' and of business circles, and not of the masses. "Because of their indifference, there is no end to the people's economic woes".
The PML-N leader recalled that Petroleum and Natural Resources Minister Amanullah Khan Jadoon had once promised on the floor of the National Assembly that POL products' prices would be brought down, but it never happened.
Similar statements, he continued, were also given to probe increase in sugar prices, but ironically the National Accountability Bureau stopped investigating the sugar scam, resulting in further increase in prices.
"The NAB is silent on such glaring scandals and the poor man has been left at the mercy of hoarders and profiteers while the rulers are safeguarding the interests of their foreign masters," he charged.
Chaudhry Nisar Ali said that the Parliament was not taken into confidence before the privatisation of key national assets such as PTCL and Pakistan Steel Mills.

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