LAHORE, Oct 26: The Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy and the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal are expected to exchange views on Thursday (today) on government’s plans to hold an all-party conference to deal with the situation created by the killer October 8 earthquake.

PML President Chaudhry Shujaat Husain called on MMA President Qazi Husain Ahmed and then Liaquat Baloch on Wednesday and told them that President Pervez Musharraf wanted to hold an APC of single-point agenda of the destruction caused by the earthquake and the need for collective efforts to provide relief to victims, rebuild cities and towns rehabilitate the victims.

Chaudhry Shujaat also twice phoned PML-N Chairman Raja Zafarul Haq on the subject. Mr Baloch immediately called ARD Chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim, who had just returned to Karachi from a private visit to the UAE, and PML-N Chairman Raja Zafarul Haq.

The ARD chief told Mr Baloch that he would be reaching Islamabad on Thursday after which the two alliances could hold consultations on the subject.

Mr Fahim had said recently that Gen Pervez Musharraf was in a better position to call the APC as he was the one calling the shots.

Though the ARD and the MMA would take formal decision on the APC on Thursday, there are indications that they would not accept the invitation.

“It’s too late now”, said an ARD leader on condition of anonymity. He said the MMA had the same opinion.

The two alliances think that the army is taking all decisions and it has left no room for political parties. One leader said that after the Oct 12 National Security Council meeting, there was little role left for the opposition parties.

Various ARD leaders have suggested that Mr Fahim lead a delegation to the quake-hit areas to express solidarity with the victims and provide them relief goods.

However, some other leaders of the coalition are of the view that the opposition alliance should hold a meeting after Eidul Fitr to discuss the tragic situation at length and decide what help the opposition leaders could offer.

Mr Fahim said on Wednesday that ARD parties were already sending relief goods to the quake-affected areas but they were not publicising their efforts.

ARD Secretary-General Iqbal Zafar Jhagra alleged that the government had forcibly deposited in the president’s relief fund goods brought by a Canadian citizen of Pakistani origin who wanted to distribute them on his own or through an agency of his trust.

Farooq Khan was disappointed by the step to an extent that he went back to Canada on Wednesday, Mr Jhagra said.