ISLAMABAD, 27 June — The country’s main political alliance said yesterday it would boycott a meeting called by President Pervez Musharraf today to discuss next month’s summit with India.

The multi-party Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD) said it was not opposed to the summit, but rather the manner in which Musharraf declared himself president. ARD President Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan told a news conference that Musharraf was trampling on the country’s suspended constitution.

Earlier, two main parties of the alliance — the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz group) — refused to attend the all-party meeting. The refusal dashed hopes of a national consensus over Musharraf’s summit with Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.

Both the PPP and the PML-N have said that Musharraf’s rule “lacked legitimacy” and cited his ban on political activity as one of the reasons for their decision.

Farhatullah Babar, media adviser to PPP leader Benazir Bhutto, said the decision not to attend the meeting was taken at the ARD meeting held yesterday morning to take stock of the situation and to decide whether to participate in the powwow or stay away. Babar said the PPP held the view that Musharraf’s move to appoint himself president was unconstitutional, he did not enjoy people’s mandate and that his talks with the Indian premier would be meaningless.

The boycott by Benazir’s PPP and the PML-N, which owes allegiance to her successor Nawaz Sharif has robbed Musharraf of a chance to build consensus that would have strengthened him at the July 14-16 summit.

PML-N’s acting president Javed Hashmi flayed Musharraf for appointing himself president last week while PPP deputy secretary-general Raza Rabbani condemned the government’s ban on political activity.

Rabbani said the PPP agreed there was a need for India-Pakistan dialogue to settle all disputes including over Kashmir. But only elected governments could initiate such dialogues.

“As Musharraf’s regime lacks the constitutional and popular mandate to settle vital national issues, it will be meaningless to attend the meeting called by him.”

Bitter foes earlier, both PML-N and PPP now work together in the ARD, aiming to end Musharraf’s rule.

Most ARD members are upset by Musharraf’s assumption of presidency. Some said their participation in the meeting would mean they accept him as head of state, an impression they don’t want to give just yet.

PML-N’s Hashmi said Musharraf had lost credibility in Pakistan and abroad and so his talks would carry no legitimacy. He said, “We think Musharraf will not be able to negotiate (with India) from a position of strength and guard the national interests.

“We, therefore, demand that Musharraf step down in the larger national interest and a national government be formed that should hold elections within 90 days and decide the agenda of talks with India.”

However, the Awami National Party, Imran Khan’s Tehrik-e-Insaf and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement have decided to attend the meeting today.