Voters age limit lowered to 18: Order issued for presidential vote
By Our Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, April 9: President Gen Pervez Musharraf promulgated on Tuesday an order under which the Election Commission has been empowered to hold referendum on April 30, “to give mandate to General Pervez Musharraf to serve the nation as President for the period of five years.”
The Referendum Order provides that any citizen, who has attained the age of 18 on or before April 30, and has valid identity card will be free to cast his vote in any polling station of his choice, indicating that no voters’ list would be used in the referendum.
“The whole of Pakistan should be single constituency and every voter be entitled to cast his vote at a polling of his choice, regardless of his residence,” the RO says.
The question, which was formally released to press, asks the voters: “For consolidating the local government system; establishment of democracy; continuation of reforms; end to sectarianism and fundamentalism; and fulfilment of Quaid-i-Azam’s concept of Pakistan, would you like to elect President General Pervez Musharraf as President of Pakistan for five years?” The question will be in Urdu and Sindhi.
The Referendum Order further provides that no court, tribunal or other authority could call in question the validity of any provision of the order, or action taken thereunder.
The order provides that if the majority of the votes were in affirmative, “the People of Pakistan shall be deemed to have given the democratic mandate to General Pervez Musharraf to serve” as President of Pakistan for a period of five years.
The period of five years would be computed from the first meeting of parliament to be elected as a result of forthcoming general elections to be held in October 2002 in accordance with the judgment of the Supreme Court.
Polling for the purpose of referendum will be held on April 30 from 9.00am to 7.00pm. Polling will be through secret ballot and every eligible voter will be at liberty to cast vote at a polling station of his choice.
The Referendum Order issued by Gen Pervez Musharraf on April 8, 2002, and Referendum Order issued by Gen Zia-ul-Haq in 1984, for identical purpose, have resemblance in some ways.
The Referendum Order issued by Gen Zia had also barred the jurisdiction of the courts, to call in question the validity of any provision of the order or action taken thereunder.
The Referendum Order also provides that no court or tribunal would have jurisdiction to call in question any provision of the order. The RO issued by Gen Musharraf has not specifically mentioned the word “superior courts”, but said “no court or tribunal” would have the jurisdiction.
