KARACHI, March 21: Pakistan Peoples Party is not opposed to election of any person as president of the country if the procedure as laid down in the 1973 Constitution is followed.

Under the Constitution, referendum can be held in the country on issues and not for electing the President, as such any exercise to get oneself elected as President would be an extra-constitutional measure.

This was stated by PPP acting chairman Makhdoom Amin Faheem on Thursday.

He was replying to a question during a press conference held at Bilawal House.

PPP leader Syed Qaim Ali Shah said at present the 1973 Constitution was in vogue and in the Provisional Constitution Order, it was specifically mentioned that whatever measures would be taken to run the affairs of the state would be in accordance to the 1973 Constitution. Likewise, in the Supreme Court decision under which the Pervez Musharraf government had been given a mandate for three years, it was mentioned that the government would carry out work as far as close to 1973 Constitution without effecting any basic changes in the Constitution.

Nisar Khuhro said that the proposed referendum proved that Gen Musharraf did not want to give credence to the public opinion.

Earlier, Syed Bachal Shah announced his rejoining the PPP and said Nawaz Sharif by running away from the country without taking his colleagues and followers into confidence had disappointed him. Therefore he had decided to rejoin the PPP.