ISLAMABAD, May 16: The national co-ordinator of Pattan Development Foundation, Sarwar Bari, called into question the validity of the government claim of holding free and fair referendum on April 30 which, according to his sources, was massively doctored.

While seriously objecting to the large-scale irregularities in the conduct of referendum all over the country, he apprehended the far-reaching political implications emanating from a third of its kind military-backed power sustaining tactic in Pakistan’s chequered political annals. Briefing a news conference at the launching of “Findings of Research Survey on the Referendum” arranged by the foundation here on Thursday, Mr Bari censured the multiple and non-eligible voting which, in his opinion, rendered the whole polling exercise into a virtual farce.

He observed that polling was conducted in a loose manner as the absence of voter list, avoidance of mandatory practice to ask for national identity and available state resources allowed pro- referendum parties, nazims, councillors and the government functionaries to engineer the results according to official aspirations. he added while referring to the facts collected by (Department For International Development, UK) DFID-sponsored Pattan initiative.

“Our researchers undertook countrywide monitoring of 294 polling stations in 16 districts,” he said adding “the instruments we used for survey findings included participatory observation, focus group discussions with voters outside polling stations, Press content analysis and monitoring of the polling process i.e checking of ID documents, issuance of ballot papers and layout of polling booths etc.

When asked if the monitoring team faced any untoward incident in the conduct of research, he said “many a times we were prevented from doing work independently.” In this matter, he quoted his encounter with the government officials who refused them entry in the poling station in Peshawar.

He rejected the official figure of 56.6 per cent turn-out and instead cited his findings according to which the turn-out was 35 per cent. Difference of 16.1 million votes exists between the Election Commission and Pattan’s estimates as lot of multiple/bogus voting and stuffing took place, he added.

About the perception of political parties on the issue of referendum, he said ideological divide continues to characterise relationship between civil society, political parties and state authorities. He also noted that political opposition to referendum was unanimous and serious gap existed between the support for General Musharraf and voting for him. He, however, revealed that some people whom they interviewed did appreciate Musharraf for permitting a semblance of Press freedom and popular dissent which was certainly not the case during Zia regime.—Ziaur Rehman Hashmi