LAHORE, March 29: Federal Information Minister Nisar Memon said here on Friday that holding of a referendum in the country is being discussed as one of the options for the future political process, but no decision has so far been taken on the issue.

He was replying to the questions by editors and senior columnists of newspapers here at a local hotel, after giving the policy statement that his ministry would protect and project Pakistan through information management.

Federal Information Secretary Syed Anwar Mahmood and other senior officials concerned were also present during his first discourse with Lahore newspapers editors and senior journalists since his appointment.

He said President Gen Pervez Musharraf was taking the nation into confidence on the referendum, as he had done before going to India and while deciding other matters of national importance.

Mr Memon said the President was contacting political parties to discuss the issue, and he would also seek the opinion of mediamen on it. Then it would become easier for him to decide on how to start the political process, he said.

He took exception to a question by an editor that the information ministry was spreading disinformation about the referendum, and said he would not confirm any option before its adoption.

“I don’ have to sell a newspaper, and will not issue a statement on a policy which has not so far been formulated. I will not spread any disinformation, and will not hint at any of the options either. Any decision on referendum would be made public. I am focussing on information and no one can lead me towards disinformation,” the minister said.

He said the steps taken by the government to implement its seven-point agenda announced on Oct 12, 1999, including the devolution of power, must have given credibility to it by now.

Mr Memon said the President, who was praised by many journalists and political leaders for bringing about the change in the country on Oct 12, 1999, had himself vowed to adopt a democratic path.

In reply to a question on law and order and economic crisis, he said the law and order had been affected because of the conditions on Pakistan’s eastern and western borders. Had the decisions taken by the government not been effective after the plane attacks in the United States, the country would have faced conditions much worst than today.

The minister said there had been no uplift projects in the country because of the government’s concentration on economic management, which were hailed by the international donors. “At least there has been no instance of corruption or favouritism in any project,” he said.

Mr Memon said there had been no recent change in the government’s earlier cultural policy. But it had been asked to attach moderation to liberalism so as to address sensitivity of the society.

He termed a question on Benazir and other leaders taking refuge abroad sentimental. The President had already stated that those facing cases or allegations should get themselves cleared from courts, he added.

CRACKDOWN ON AL QAEDA MEN: Answering a question about the federal information secretary’s denial that Pakistan and American forces had jointly conducted the raids in Lahore and Faisalabad, he said the two countries were cooperating with each other only to the extent of sharing intelligence.