Pak: 7-point agenda issued for multi-party conf

Lahore, June 8: The Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD) has issued a seven-point agenda along with the invitations for the two-day multi-party conference (MPC) to Pakistani political parties and observers.

The conference is being hosted by the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) in London from July 7.

Dawn newspaper today quoted PML-N Secretary-General Iqbal Zafar Jhagra as saying that the invitations had been sent to some 36 political parties and observers whose strength was around 100. The MPC, he said, might have an attendance beyond 150.

The agenda seeks the invitees' opinion as to how Gen Pervez Musharraf could be removed from power by the combined opposition.

It has also sought the views on the establishment of a caretaker government of national consensus and the formation of an independent election commission to hold the next general elections in a free and transparent manner.

The agenda has also included the issues relating to the current political uprising, including the presidential reference against Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry and the new Pemra ordinance.

The parties have been asked to come out with their assessment of the situation.

Law and order, the recent hike in essential commodities and mounting cost of living are also part of the agenda.

The ARD, which mainly comprises Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan Peoples Party and Sharif's PML, has requested the political parties to hold meetings before leaving for London for assessing an overall situation and giving opinion for the prevention of martial laws in future.

Mr Jhagra said that the joint declaration of the MPC would be prepared on the basis of the participant parties' reports.

Meanwhile, the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal has announced that it is making efforts to convene a meeting of a committee of leaders from different political parties to work out a joint strategy for the MPC. The meeting will possibly be held on June 11 in Islamabad.

The committee, which was formed at a meeting of the national consultative conference in Islamabad on May 25, included MMA President Qazi Husain Ahmad, Secretary-General Maulana Fazlur Rehman, PML-N chairperson Raja Zafrul Haq, Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf chairperson Imran Khan, Awami National Party President Asfandyar Wali Khan and Pakhtoonkhawa Milli Awami Party president Mahmood Khan Achakzai.

UNI

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