ARD, Pakistan Peoples Party agree on vital Issues: Fahim
By Omair Goraya - Pakistan Times Staff Correspondent

LAHORE: The PPPP leader and Chairman ARD Makhdoom Amin Fahim has reiterated that any decision taken in the government-PPPP dialogue would be finally decided at the alliance platform.

Talking to reporters at the ARD Punjab office here after attending the informal meeting of the heads of the component parties of the alliance, he also said ARD and PPPP always talked of separate role of politics and army in line with 1973 Constitution.

“We are trying to create the middle way through dialogue”, Mr Fahim said.

PPPP leader said PML-N leader Ch Nisar Ali Khan’s reservations regarding PPPP’s dialogue had no room. “PML [N] should have contacted the PPPP leadership before making any announcement of boycotting of the alliance meetings”, PPPP President said and argued that the alliance’s top leaders Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif agreed on democracy charter and take into confidence each other over any political advancement during their meeting in Jeddah so there should be no room for any mistake and by-passing each other.

Call to PML [N] Chief

He asked PML [N] patron Mian Nawaz Sharif to inform PPPP about their reservations so that those could be settled amicably. He told a questioner that whenever reconciliation is achieved, would be made public everyone after taking into confidence the ARD component parties.

Fahim said Asif Ali Zardari was also right in his approach that army is reality but made it clear that efforts would be made in running army and politics separately according to constitution.

MMA’s Reservation

Asked to comment over the MMA’s reservation of violation of three-point agreement the PPPP leader Asif Ali Zardari made through his pro-army and establishment statements, Fahim recalled that religious alliance chief Qazi Hussain Ahmed called on him at a meeting on the day of President Gen Musharraf’s announcement on media regarding continuing army chief post along with presidency.

“Qazi Sahib gave me the paper on which he himself, I and PML-N’s Ch Nisar Ali Khan signed for the combined struggle for restoration of democracy in the country and were agreed on constitution of a committee from both sides for removing apprehensions and adopting future course of action,” ARD leader regretted the MMA leadership did not constitute its committee yet so there was no advancement in launching joint struggle.●