ISLAMABAD, April 6: The Pakistan Muslim League(QA) under Mian Azhar on Saturday announced support for the success of referendum for what its leadership termed interest of democracy in the country.

The central executive committee of the party which met with Mian Azhar in the chair, decided to extend full support to Gen Musharraf in his campaign to elect himself through a referendum in a bid to what it described help democracy restored.

Mian Azhar briefed newsmen after the meeting.

He was flanked by Gohar Ayub Khan and Ijazul Haq sons of two former military dictators Ayub Khan and Ziaul Haq as both tried to defend their fathers for giving the nation controlled democracy in their own way.

While Gohar Ayub clarified that his father’s was not a referendum but it was election through 80,000 basic democrats equally drawn from both wings of the country, Ijazul Haq said his father had held referendum under the 7th amendment brought in the constitution by late Z.A. Bhutto. He said the present situation was creation of Nawaz Sharif who brought in amendment 13 and 14.

Mian Azhar justified his party CEC’s majority decision to support referendum for smooth transition to the October elections and in the larger interest of democracy. He did not agree with a question that the president was treading towards presidential system when he says in his speech that he will ensure harmony between his office, elected parliament, cabinet and prime minister.

He said we support impending striking checks and balances between the three power brokers in new scheme of things. He claimed his party to be the largest political entity in the country enjoying the support of more than 100 former members of national assembly.

Earlier, PML(QA) through various resolutions asked its workers to take all steps for polling maximum votes in the referendum

Through another resolution the PML(QA) expressed its reservations against condition of graduation for assembly candidates and demanded its withdrawal and applying same qualification which was applicable to local government representatives.

The party expressed its hope through a resolution that the government will transfer power to the real representatives of the people after holding elections to national, provincial assemblies and senate within the time frame given to it by the supreme court.

It also demanded announcement of election schedule for the national and provincial assembly polls and lifting of curbs from political activities.

The party through yet another resolution lauded government’s decision of enhancing of national and provincial assembly seats but expressed its dissatisfaction over delimitations by election commission and asked for resolution of disputes.

The PML(QA) condemned the atrocities on innocent people of Israel and demanded of the US and EU to condemn Israeli terrorism.