LONDON, July 2: The Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD) on Sunday demanded resignation of Gen Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz by July 31, “failing which a vote of no-confidence shall be moved against the Musharraf regime”.  

The demand was made in a resolution adopted at the concluding session of a day-long meeting of the alliance, the first of the ARD in more than five and a half years attended by Benazir Bhutto and Mian Nawaz Sharif.

In his speech in the inaugural session, the PML-N chief had proposed a no-trust resolution against the prime minister and impeachment of the president.

However, in the resolution, which was prepared after consultations between the two former prime ministers, the matter was left vague by using the term ‘Musharraf regime’. When a reporter asked for a clarification, Ms Bhutto said a committee was being constituted which would decide whether both options — impeachment of the president and no-confidence motion against the prime minister — would be exercised. Also, she pointed out, it would be decided by the committee whether to take along parties outside the ARD fold.

Mr Amin Fahim and Iqbal Zafar Jhagra are members of the committee who will hold talks with parties in the ARD and outside. The Supreme Court’s decision in the privatisation case of Pakistan Steel Mills has been made the basis for the demand. “The Supreme Court’s decision in the matter of the privatisation of the Pakistan Steel Mills has vindicated the position of the ARD on the issue,” the resolution said, adding that the “indictment against the military regime is complete”.

Ms Bhutto said the ARD’s move would expose the corruption of the present government. She said if there was any law in Pakistan, those behind the privatisation should be arrested.    

The PPP chairperson, ostensibly, ruled out cooperation with the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, saying: They have their own programme, and we are going to activate the ARD”.   She had been asked if the ARD could go along with the MMA which had already announced a programme of protests against the regime.

Mr Sharif, answering a question, said that if Gen Musharraf tried to get himself re-elected by the present assemblies, all ARD legislators would quit. Asked whether the ARD would take part in elections under the supervision of Gen Musharraf, he said: “We’ll not walk into the trap laid by the general to get legitimacy for himself”. 

Free and fair elections under the general were not possible, he said, adding that the opposition alliance would mobilise the masses to frustrate his plans.   In reply to a question about the US presence in Iraq and Afghanistan, Ms Bhutto said the ARD would like to negotiate with the governments of the two countries to create conditions for withdrawal of foreign troops. Both the leaders made it clear that they would not allow the ‘turncoats’ to rejoin their parties.    

Mr Sharif, however, said that people who had not joined hands with the dictatorship but had kept silent could be taken back.    

Both the leaders said they would be returning to Pakistan before the elections. They said any attempt by rulers to block their return would be resisted by people.    

The signing of the Charter of Democracy by all parties of the ARD was the major objective of the meeting. Heads of the parties signed it one after the other.    

ARD Information Secretary Syed Zafar Ali Shah requested the two former prime ministers to give him the pens with which they had signed the charter. The request was accepted.

Earlier, leaders of various parties expressed views about the situation in the country and how the movement against the rulers could be stepped up. They had differing views about cooperation with the MMA.

Online adds: The ARD said the opposition parties were determined to launch a movement against the regime from August 1 if incumbent regimes failed to meet their demands.