ARD chief calls it quits

In a move that left many within the multiple-party Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD) shocked, Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan announced in a surprise move on Tuesday night that he was quitting as head of the alliance.

The announcement was made at the Nawabzada's Lahore home, immediately after a meeting of ARD leaders. The leaders were in fact told of Nasrullah's decision only hours before his announcement.

Though Nasrullah cited his worsening health and frail condition as a reason for his decision to resign, ARD sources say "this is not the real reason."

In fact they maintain that despite his advanced years, Nasrullah, who is in his 80s, is "very fit and very active, with more stamina than most younger leaders."

In view of this, it is believed Nasrullah quit in dismay over the difficulties being faced in reaching seat adjustments between ARD component parties. Though the parties have agreed in principal not to oppose each others' candidates, the matter of working out arrangements in practice has led to a series of rows.

"The Nawabzada has been trying to mediate and has arranged meetings between part leaders, but he was irked and disillusioned by their reluctance to accommodate each other," said a source close to Nasrullah.

Nasrullah stressed that "even after my decision, the ARD will remain intact."

He also added that his own Pakistan Democratic Party (PDP) would remain a part of the alliance and that he was "very proud of the fact that the ARD remains the largest alliance against the government and its undeomocratic actions."

He also stated that he would "continue to serve the alliance as a party leader within it and act in its interests at all times."

Leaders within the ARD are said to have requested Nasrullah to change his decision and promised "a greater spirit of cooperation" in the future.

He has, however, stated that "this time my decision is final," and told leaders they should "elect a new ARD president."

The fact that the ARD was forced recently to delay its first public meeting, mainly because of differences in opinion between component parties on the matter of timing, arrangement etc is also said to have been a factor in Nasrullah's decision.

He believed that the delay in fact acted to expose ARD weaknesses, and the fact that parties within it lacked harmony on a number of issues.

The meeting was put off from this weekend to a date later in the month.

ARD leaders, meanwhile,started informal discussions to elect a new leader of the alliance. The names of several, veteran leaders of smaller parties were put forward.

However, well-placed sources maintain that it is Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarian (PPPP) leader Makhdoom Amin Fahim who is emerging as the front-runner to take over the ARD. It is expected the ARD may convene a meeting next week to elect new leader.