LAHORE, April 5: President Gen Pervez Musharraf’s announcement to hold a referendum in the first week of next month to ascertain public support for his reforms agenda and his continuity in the office beyond the general elections scheduled for October this year has largely been opposed by major political parties.

These parties have already rejected the proposal to hold the referendum as unconstitutional and a violation of the Supreme Court’s decision allowing the general three years to restore democracy in the country.

While the Pakistan Muslim League and the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, a coalition of major religious parties, have decided to launch a public campaign against the referendum. Pakistan People’s Party and other component parties of the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy, are expected to follow the suit.

In fact, the ARD leaders (belonging to the PPP), told a press conference a few days ago that the Alliance would consider in its April 7 meeting a proposal to move the court.

The PML (Quaid-i-Azam), minor parties like the Millat Party, the Pakistan Awami Tehrik and the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf as well as the Nazims of some districts, including Lahore, are campaigning for the referendum and the general. — Staff Reporter