HYDERABAD: Sindh-Dost Inqilabi Party (SDIP) on Sunday announced its merger with Dr Dodo Mahairi-led Sindh National Party (SNP) in order to carry out a joint struggle for the rights of Sindh.

Dr Mahairi accompanied by senior party leader Chacha Mohammed Ali Leghari and others told a press conference at Hyderabad Press Club (HPC) that the country was heading towards economical and political crises, while the rulers were busy in making missiles and atomic bombs to create war euphoria.

"All the resources, instead of using for education and healthcare of the people, are directed towards non-developments activities, creating a situation that poor people are committing suicides," he said. He alleged that the people were being rendered jobless in the name of rightsizing and downsizing.

He said for many years no development work has been carried out in Sindh province, the agriculture sector is deteriorating due to ill-planned polices of the rulers, constant price hike has severely undermined the purchasing power of the people, Karo Kari incidents are on the rise in upper Sindh and several hundred people are made victim to unfortunate custom but the government has done nothing for these simmering issues.

ISLAMABAD: An 18-party Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD) was formed, announced Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan here on Sunday. He was addressing a press conference at the residence of PML leader Zafar Ali Shah.

The Alliance demanded immediate free, fair and impartial elections and resolved to launch a peaceful struggle by mobilising the masses to achieve its objectives. Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan was elected first president of the ARD with the power to appoint other office-bearers.

The alliance emerged after the Pakistan Muslim League joined the Grand Democratic Alliance. This is a comprehensive political alliance in the history of Pakistan, claimed the Nawabzada, who chaired two preliminary sessions held to give a final shape to the ARD. The alliance comprises all the major political parties including the PML and the PPP. Nasrullah said leaders of all the parties signed the joint statement and alliance-forming documents. The head of the PML delegation Raja Zafarul Haq did not attend the meeting.

The alliance took the final shape after two rounds of talks: one held at the residence of Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan and the other at the residence of Zafar Ali Shah. When asked whether the ARD would accept offer of dialogue from General Pervez Musharraf, Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan said no democrat can decline the offer provided the dialogue would be meaningful and substantive.

He demanded that the accountability and holding of elections should be delinked. If elections could be held in Iran during war times, why should elections not be held in Pakistan even if the accountability is being conducted, he said.

Khan said the basic purpose of forming an alliance is to strengthen the public opinion so that no one could try to grab power through use of force. We are seeking a final verdict of the court of people, he said. He parried questions about his role in the past and what kind of alliances he would be making in the future.

Those who attended the meeting and signed the document included Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan (PDP), Makhdoom Amin Fahim (PPP), Saranjam Khan (PML), Aftab Ahmed Shaikh (MQM), Syed Qaim Ali Shah (PPP), Syed Zafar Ali Shah (PML), Asfandyar Wali (ANP), Begum Nasim Wali Khan (ANP), Jehangir Badr (PPP), Zahid Khan (ANP), Mir Hasal Bizenjo (BNP), Makhdoom Javed Hashmi (PML), Saeed Ahmed Manais (PML-J), Nawaz Gondal (PDP), Qazi Abdul Qadeer Khamoosh (JUAH), Munir Hussain Gillani (Islamic Democratic Front), Manzoor Hussain Gillani (Istaklal Party), Malik Haider Usman (PML-J), Naveed Ahmed Malik, Khalid Bin Waleed (MQM) and Basharat Mirza (PDP).

To a question, Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan said the ARD has demanded review of all cases in which the ARD leaders were sentenced, as the NAB law is a 'draconian' law and even Farooq Adam admitted that fact.

He fully supported and endorsed the strike call of Pakistan and Punjab Bar Councils. He said the movement for restoration of democracy has been there since long. Our job is not to form private armies or launch a guerilla war as we believe in peaceful struggle so we are utilising every opportunity to launch our peaceful protest, said Khan.

"We have always pressurised the dictators through public opinion," he said. He said if the Supreme Court takes up the petition against the NAB, the problem would be resolved. About ARD's decision on participation in the local body polls, he said the new system of local bodies is unworkable. "We will welcome other parties to join hands with us in this struggle," he added. PML Secretary-General Saranjam Khan said the alliance leaders have agreed on a code of conduct.

May Almighty Allah blesses the nation by proving this development a good omen for the people, said Begum Kulsoom Nawaz while talking to The News.. Zafar Ali Shah expressed his happiness over the formation of new alliance, which, he hoped, would bode well for healthy democratic traditions. ANP leader Asfandyar Wali Khan termed the alliance a new good beginning.

Following is the text of resolution of the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD) and joint statement issued here Sunday. "Believing that a solution to the myriad of social, economic and political problems lies in economic improvement, social emancipation, a democratic and pluralistic society at peace with itself

Realising the enormity of the political and economic crisis and the damage done by it to the country, reaffirming our commitment to: Undiluted democracy and universally recognised fundamental rights;

Building of consensus on the major policy issues, including economic issues common to the federating units, strategic security and foreign policy issues; Respecting dissent, tolerance and the bipartisan working of the parliament through powerful committee system;

A federation with no discrimination against federating units and its devolution within the framework of the Constitution; Maximum provincial autonomy within the ambit of federation;

The emancipation of our people from poverty, ignorance, want and disease;

Ensuring rights of women and minorities;

The elimination of illicit Arms;

The rule of law and merits into politics, directly or indirectly;

Not to permit the derailment of the democratic institutions;

Not to discriminate against the minorities and dispossessed sections of the society on the basis of religion or gender;

Not to allow any political role to the armed forces except of the defence of the geographical boundaries;

Not to let the bureaucracy be politicised, security of services to be guaranteed;

Not to let power concentrate in a person or in any one institution of the government;

Not to violate anyone of the fundamental rights as enshrined in the Constitution and the UN charter on Universal Human Rights;

Not to allow patronage privileges, graft and corruption;

Not to violate constitution of law and merit;

Now, therefore, we resolve and adopt the following joint statement:

Urging the people of all federating units to join hands to defend their fundamental, social, political and economic rights in a democratic, federal, modern and progressive Pakistan as dreamt by the Founder of the Nation we have adopted, in pursuance of the above mentioned understanding of intent and a Code of Conduct for the present and the future, the following joint statement of action.

The participants of this meeting

1. Demand that free, fair and impartial elections be immediately held through financially autonomous and independent Election Commission without the interference of the establishment, under a caretaker government of national consensus to restore democracy and transfer power to the elected representatives of the people without conditions and strings;

2. Declare that any amendment in the 1973 Constitution in a manner other than the procedure laid down in the Constitution or under pressure from the powers that will not be acceptable to the people of federating units of Pakistan, nor will the people allow the curtailment of the sovereignty of the Parliament or a role, other than defence of the geographical frontiers, arbitrarily assigned to the armed forces;

3. State that the parties pledge to work for maximum provincial autonomy within the ambit of federation and develop a national consensus to devolve power through constitutional means from the centre to the provinces and, downward, to the grassroots;

4. Suggest that a high powered Truth and Reconciliation Commission be formed to determine the wrongs of the past;

5. Call for a transparent, across the board, just and lawful accountability of the corrupt without discrimination through a just process of law and a credible highest judicial forum which is not under the executive and that it shall not in any way hinder the restoration of democracy at the earliest in the country;

6. Reiterate their commitment to the code of ethics and democratic conduct for good governance and constitutional continuity, as mentioned above in the first part of this statement;

7. Affirming their loyalty to the people and dedication to improve their lot and make Pakistan a prosperous, democratic, modern, strong and forward looking republic;

8. Declare that all acts, deeds, things of this government will be subject to reviews and approval of the elected representatives;

9. Resolve to coordinate, mobilise, organise and struggle together through peaceful means for the restoration of democracy at the earliest by forming ARD and framing its rules.