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GDA meeting

in Lahore

on 29th

LAHORE: The heads and top leaders of the component parties of the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) are scheduled to meet in Lahore on March 29 to discuss the overall political situation in the country and the future course of action of the 19-parties alliance.

A proposal of working in cooperation with the PML (N) the former ruling party might also be discussed at the meeting. Some parties in the GDA are strongly opposed to joining hands with the PML (N) on the ground that the alliance had been formed with one-point agenda of ousting the Nawaz Sharif government. "If we have to join hands with the PML (N) there would be no justification for the struggle that we have waged," a GDA leader maintained.

Since Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf is due to announce his future plans on March 23, 2000, the GDA meeting on March 29 would also deliberate on the merits and de-merits of the plan and formulate the alliance's formal reaction.

Meanwhile, the top leaders of the PML (N) are to meet in Islamabad on Wednesday in order to finalise a list of parties with which the former ruling party intends to establish contacts for exploring the possibility of working in cooperation for the revival of democracy.

Informed sources said the senior leaders of the party would also discuss to what extent the PML (N) should be flexible in its position on various issues. It is learnt that committees might be formed for contacting other parties. The party is seriously thinking to form alliance with like-minded parties.ÑPPI