April 3, 2002	Wednesday	Muharram 19,1423

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QUETTA, April 2: Former Balochistan chief minister and leader of Balochistan National Party, Sardar Akhtar Mengal, on Tuesday strongly opposed the proposed referendum for extending Gen Pervez Musharraf’s rule as president and said that his party would boycott such an unconstitutional act and mobilize the people on the issue.

Speaking at a press conference, Sardar Mengal said that referendum for the election of president would be unconstitutional.

He said that if Gen Musharraf was interested in remaining the president, he should conduct free and fair election and contest the presidential election through the parliament in accordance with the constitution.

He said that all the political parties believed in democracy and they were opposing the referendum.

Sardar Mengal said that only the ‘kings party’ and some other groups were in favour of such unconstitutional acts. He said referendum could only be conducted on issues.

Replying to a question, he said the condition of graduation for the national and provincial assembly candidates could not be supported as such a restriction was not imposed in any other country. He said that through such tactics the rulers wanted to make the parliament hostage.

He said his party would evolve its strategy for opposing the referendum after the announcement of the government’s programme in this connection.