ARD meets on Aug-10 to workout strategy on LB polls in Pakistan
By Attaul Mohsin Syed - Pakistan Times Staff Correspondent

ISLAMABAD: The Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD) has decided to meet once again on August-10 , a day before the crucial All Parties Conference being called to discuss one point agenda to participate or boycott the forthcoming Local Bodies polls .

A well placed source in ARD said that leaders have decided to call a special meeting of ARD on 10th of August to finalise the agenda for the APC to be held on 11th of August.

The APC is expected to be attended by PPPP, PML [N], MMA, ANP, JWP, BNA and many other nationalist and regional opposition parties. Even though MMA is in power in Balochistan and NWFP, they too are feeling the heat of what is being alleged 'pre-poll rigging by the ruling alliance of PML'.

Sindh and Punjab are being cited as two worst provinces for political victimisation and harassment for the opposition candidates.

It is believed that APC would take up a one point agenda to participate or boycott next LB polls.

Two Opinions

There are two opinions within the opposition parties. One faction feels that ruling party must not be given an open ground and opposition parties must give tough fight.

But yet there is another faction who feels very strongly in favour of boycotting the LB polls. They argue that this would give a serious blow to the credibility and legitimacy of the local government elections in the world community.●