PPP to boycott referendum

Published April 12, 2002

ISLAMABAD, April 11: Senior Vice Chairman of Pakistan People’s Party, Makhdoom Amin Faheem has said that the PPP will boycott the presidential referendum in line with the decision taken by the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD).

In an interview with PPI here on Thursday, the PPP leader said there was no constitutional, legal or moral justification for referendum. He said the PPP would actively take part in anti-referendum rallies to be staged by the ARD.

The PPP leader said there was a procedure in the Constitution for anyone who wanted to get himself elected as president. He said holding of referendum was not the solution as it was totally different from the procedure of the presidential polls enshrined in the Constitution.

Amin Fahim said being member of a party having belief in constitution, rule of law and democracy, we have taken the decision in a democratic way. He said holding of elections under a neutral civilian set up and transfer of power to the elected government was the only solution to bring the country out of prevailing crisis.

He dismissed the government’s threats that PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto would not be allowed to contest coming elections. He made it clear that Benazir Bhutto would arrive in the country before elections.

Amin Faheem claimed that Ms Bhutto would come back to lead campaigns of democrats in the coming elections.

AITZAZ AHSAN: Prominent lawyer and former federal minister Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan on Thursday termed the holding of referendum unconstitutional.

Talking to newsmen at the Supreme Court, he said: “It is against the spirit of the Constitution and democracy.”

JUI: Deputy Amir of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Hafiz Hussain Ahmed said here on Thursday that the presidential referendum was unconstitutional.—PPI/APP

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