May 9, 2002	Thursday	Safar 25, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, May 8: Pakistan Muslim League(N) will publish a white paper on the alleged irregularities in the recently held referendum which has been widely termed “fraud” by the opposition parties here on Thursday.

The white paper has two parts. The first part has covered the constitutionality of holding of referendum and address the legal and moral question whether a president could be elected through it.

The second part is focused on the irregularities recorded by the opposition and independent observers on the polling day, Central Information Secretary of party Siddiqul Farooq told Dawn.

The Alliance for Restoration of Democracy of which Muslim League is a component had announced to publish a joint white paper.

Mr Farooq said that the work done by them would be later incorporated in a joint white paper which would be published from the platform of the ARD.

He said there were widespread complaints of rigging and stuffing of ballot boxes. The government servants, he said, had been forced to cast their votes in support of the President.

Reports of international and national media over the referendum and opinion of independent observers would also be included in the white paper, he added.

The white paper has been prepared by a four-member committee of PML(N) comprising Syed Zafar Ali Shah, Shahid Khaqan Abbassi, Ahsan Iqbal and Siddiqul Farooq.