APDM links polls to lifting emergency

ISLAMABAD—All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM) Saturday announced to boycott the up-coming general elections and issued four-day ultimatum to the government for withdrawal of the emergency rule, restoration of deposed judges, lifting restrictions on media and release of all detained political workers.
The opposition alliance in a meeting here unanimously decided not to take part in the general elections to be held in January, 2008. The meeting was attended by Qazi Hussain Ahmed, Liaquat Baloch, Raja Zafarull Haq, Makhdoom Javed Hashmi, Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, Ghulam Ahmed Bilor, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Imran Khan, Mehmood Khan Achakzai, General Hameed Gul, Dr. Abdul Hye Baloch, Abid Hasan Manto, Dr Qadir Magsi, Hamid Khan, Rasool Bakhsh Palejo, Mian Muhammad Aslam, Abdul Majeed Hazarwi and other APDM leaders.
Addressing a press conference after the meeting, PML (N) Chairman Raja Zafar-ul-Haq said that keeping in view the present situation of the country APDM has unanimously decided not to take part in the up-coming general elections irrespective of who filed the nomination papers or otherwise. The alliance, he said, would launch an organised campaign to oust the present regime instead of contesting elections in the current deprecated political atmosphere. He demanded restoration of the 1973 Constitution and judiciary and release of all detained political workers and lawyers.
Zafar-ul- Haq said that APDM has issued four-day ultimatum to the government for withdrawal of the emergency rule, restoration of deposed judges and release of all detained political workers. He said the alliance would boycott the elections and launch a protest movement against the government if they failed to accept the demands in four days.
He said that the country was passing through critical situation due to wrong polices of the government. He blamed the government for paralysing all national institutions creating mistrust between the nation and Armed Forces. The country, he said, was surrounded in troubles from all sides and asked all the political parties to unite against the present regime. “We also appealed to all political parties to boycott the elections otherwise it would pave way for Musharraf to term the unconstitutional acts as legitimate and legal,” he observed.
The PML (N) leader said that APDM would contact Jamait Ulama-e-Islam and Pakistan Peoples Party and would try to convince and persuade them over election boycott. He appealed to JUI and PPP to follow suit of APDM and be part of national consensus to boycott the up-coming elections.
Zafar-ul-Haq said that APDM meeting would be convened again in four-day time to chalk out the future line of action of the opposition alliance. Replying a question, he said that PML (N) Chief Nawaz Sharif has been contacted during the APDM meeting and he has agreed with the alliance’s decision to boycott the elections.
Amir Jamaat-e-Islami Qazi Hussain Ahmed on the occasion said that his party would consult with other member parties of Muttahida Majalis-e-Amal (MMA) for boycott of the general elections. He said that MMA meeting would be convened soon in this regard.—Agencies