QUETTA, April 29: Balochistan Governor Amirul Mulk Mengal said on Monday that political parties have no justification for opposing the referendum after Supreme Court’s verdict on the constitutional petitions in this regard.

Speaking to delegations of minorities, councillors and Awami Ittehad at Governor’s House, he said that despite the SC judgment some elements were trying to deceive the people and asking them to boycott the referendum.

He said the people of the province would not pay heed to such appeals and would vote for President Gen Pervez Musharraf in large numbers in the interest of the country. He said the president was making all possible efforts for speedy development of Balochistan.

He said the government had permitted the opposition parties to hold their public meeting so that they could explain their point of view about the referendum and now they should allow the people to vote in the referendum freely.

However, the governor said, the government would provide protection to the people during polling and nobody would be allowed to create any hurdle in the voting. He said arrangements had been completed for maintaining peace and order.

He said the government was paying attention to protecting the minorities’ rights and taking steps for resolving their problems. He assured the minorities that they would be given equal rights.

The delegations assured the governor of their cooperation.

Traders: The traders’ organizations of the Quetta City have decided to continue their business as usual on the referendum day ignoring the strike call given by some political parties.

Nazim Quetta city government Mohammad Rahim Kakar said this while speaking at a joint news conference with deputy inspector general police Quetta Range, Humyyuan Khan Jogezai, and SSP Quetta, Abid Ali, here on Monday.

He said that the administration will provide security to the voters and would take action against those trying to obstruct the polling process.