The Hindu : Referendum in May

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Apr 06, 2002

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Referendum in May

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

The Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, addressing the nation on television in Islamabad on Friday. — AFP

ISLAMABAD April 5. Pakistan would vote in the first week of May on a referendum whether the President, Pervez Musharraf, should continue for a further period of five years in office.

``Am I (Pervez Musharraf) required for Pakistan? If yes, what should be the shape of the coming Assemblies and my relationship with them'' are the two key questions in the referendum, Gen. Musharraf disclosed here tonight.

Attired in military uniform, Gen. Musharraf made the full use of his address to the nation, televised and broadcast on the state-owned media, to convince the people that his regime had already established ``real democracy'' and empowered people through the party-less elections to local bodies.

The crux of his 100-minute speech was that while he was convinced that his continuation as President was essential for the good of Pakistan, he would like to be reassured that he had the backing of the people. ''Let the entire world know that I am not alone. Behind me are 140 million of people of Pakistan,'' he declared.

He asserted that no future set-up could reverse the reforms initiated by him and ``democracy'' should never be allowed to be derailed. He desired a harmonious relationship with the future Prime Minister and asserted that he would never allow the Prime Minister to either go against `national interest' or reverse reforms.

Gen. Musharraf is determined to take head-on the two mainstream political parties in the country, Pakistan People's Party (PPP) led by the former Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto, and the Pakistan Muslim League led by another ex-premier, Nawaz Sharif.

He does not want them to have a role either in the May referendum or the proposed general elections in October.

As anticipated, the address led to angry reactions from political and religious parties.

``We view the presidential referendum as pre-poll rigging by the military regime and we denounce Gen. Musharraf's unconstitutional efforts to become President'', the PPP said.

The response reflected the views of a majority of parties.

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