Pakistan's All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM), says it will organize rallies across the country, persuading people to boycott polls.

The APDM, which includes the Jamaat-e-Islami and Imran Khan's Tehrik-e-Insaf parties, has formed a committee to persuade major opposition parties like the Pakistan Muslim League (N), Pakistan People's Party and the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam to boycott the February 18 polls.

A meeting of APDM's joint action committee on Tuesday also decided to organize a three-day nationwide protest from January 11 against the shortage of flour, electricity and gas.

The APDM holds the government responsible for Benazir Bhutto's assassination and blames the administration for "conniving with foreign forces to harm the country's solidarity".

The APDM said it would organize rallies on alternate days in major cities to ask the people not to vote.

The APDM also asked PPP leaders to review their stance those who "killed 84 children in Bajaur. . .and created the Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa situations” and said the same people had played parts in Bhutto's assassination.

JR/MMN