ISLAMABAD, April 2: The people of Pakistan alone have the right to accept or reject the referendum, said an official spokesman here on Tuesday.

Commenting on a recent statement of the office-bearers of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC), the spokesman said that only they (the people) had the prerogative to make any decision in that regard.

He said no final decision had been taken about holding the referendum, but if President Pervez Musharraf decided to hold a referendum, “he will go to people of Pakistan’s court himself and give them the right to decide about his future.”

“Who could know better than the lawyers that ascertaining and following people’s will is the real essence of democracy?”

He said the President had reiterated, time and again, that he would abide by the decision of the SC regarding holding of the general election. “The government is fully committed to holding free, fair and impartial elections in the country within the stipulated period in the light of the Supreme Court’s decision,” he added.—APP