The All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM) has on Thursday announced a boycott of January, 8, 2008 polls, if the judiciary was not restored in the position as on November 2, 2007. The decision was taken at meeting of the APDM held at the Model Town residence of PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif, here on Thursday.
As many as 53 representatives of 23 different parties including Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Jamaat-i-Islami, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Sami), Awami National Party, Jamiat Ahle Hadith, Balochistan National Party, Jamiat Ulema-e- Pakistan, Pakistan Democratic Party, Khaksar Tehreek, Pakhtoonkhawa Milli Awami Party, Jamhoori Watan Party, Isteqlal Party, National Workers Party, Seraiki National Party, Taraqi Pasand Party, Awami Tehreek attended the meeting.
Announcing the decisions taken in the APDM meeting, Nawaz Sharif flanked by Qazi Hussain Ahmad, Raja Zafar ul Haq, Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Imran Khan, Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour and other APDM leaders told reporters that the decision was taken in the larger national interest keeping in view the prevailing situation. The meeting also discussed the announcement of President Pervez Musharraf to lift the emergency and restore the Constitution on December 16. The meeting praised the media and lawyers for their historic for a greater cause and condemned restrictions imposed on media.
Nawaz Sharif announced that if the judiciary was not restored in the position as on November 2, before the last date of withdrawal of nomination papers, the candidates of the component parties of the alliance who had filed their nomination papers for the January elections would withdraw their papers and would not contest the polls.
Unfolding the one-point agenda ie restoration of judiciary to November 2, position, Nawaz Sharif said in meeting a committee comprising he himself, Qazi Hussain Ahmad, Imran Khan, Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Imran Khan, Abid Hassan Manto and Nawabzada Mansoor Ali Khan has been constituted. The committee members will meet Benazir Bhutto and Maulana Fazlur Rehman and convince them to boycott the elections. He said he would himself go to meet Benazir Bhutto alongwith other members of the committee.
To a question, Nawaz Sharif said if Pervez Musharraf restores the judiciary they would welcome it and fully participate in the elections. He said it is a matter of country's solidarity and they had taken the decision for a greater cause which will leave far-reaching impacts in the country's future scenario.
He said Pervez Musharraf had taken action against judiciary because it was proceeding with important matters including missing people, contesting presidential election by a man in uniform. He further said that Pervez Musharraf had taken oath as President of Pakistan after committing ''murder'' of constitution and judiciary.
Sharif also announced holding of a National Solidarity Conference in which people from all shades of life including civil society, ex-servicemen, lawyers, mediamen, traders, human rights activists, students, political parties leaders and workers and transporters would be invited to make the boycott forceful.
To a question Jamaat Chief Qazi Hussain Ahmad said all the parties of MMA except JUI-F are in favour of boycotting the polls. He said he would meet Maulana Fazlur Rehman alongwith other members of the committee constituted by the APDM and request him to join the boycott.
Answering another question, Imran Khan said that his party had clear stance that contesting the elections under PCO is like legitimising the illegal steps of Pervez Musharraf, which would set very horrible example and put the future of the country at stake.