KARACHI, 27 December — Cracks appeared in Pakistan’s main opposition grouping, Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy, after a key component of the alliance, the Pakistan People’s Party of former Premier Benazir Bhutto decided to boycott all the meetings of the grouping. The PPP said yesterday it held ARD chief Nasrullah Khan in high esteem but would not participate in any meeting where religious parties will also take part. It said that the PPP was a democratic organization whereas religious groups held a totally opposite view. The PPP noted that religious parties had refused to condemn the persecution of PPP leaders. The alliance was formed to topple former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. It launched an agitation movement throughout the country to oust Sharif, but when the army took power, the same grouping allowed Sharif’s party to join it.
