KOHAT, April 24: The District Nazim, Malik Asad, has said the forthcoming referendum will block the entry of corrupt politicians into power who plundered the national wealth and betrayed the people during the last decade, and will pave the way for the smooth continuation of the reforms initiated by the President, Gen Pervez Musharraf.

Speaking at a public meeting at the residence of former MNA and leader of PML (Q) Nadir Shah Afridi on Wednesday, Mr Asad said that both Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif who were now abroad and afraid of facing the courts, behaved in a manner as if they owned this country and it was their personal property.

Even Asif Zardari, spouse of Benazir Bhutto, by exploiting his status, acted like a prime minister and with the connivance of bureaucrats like Usman Farooqui and some bankers made huge fortunes, he alleged.

He regretted that a lot of politicians who had approved the referendum of Gen Ziaul Haq, were now terming it unconstitutional and undemocratic just to escape accountability.