LONDON, April 5: Commonwealth Secretary General Don McKinnon said on Friday the announcement by Pakistani General Pervez Musharraf of a referendum on extending his presidency by five years did “not appear to be in keeping with the roadmap announced by him”.

“The roadmap did not include provision for such a referendum,” said McKinnon in a statement released in London, referring to a plan Musharraf announced last year.

“While we are awaiting further details, the holding of a referendum on the extension of Gen Musharraf’s term in office would therefore not appear to be in keeping with the roadmap announced by him.” McKinnon added: “Such a device has also been used in the past by a former military leader in Pakistan to extend his term in office.

“The Commonwealth would urge the application of established constitutional processes to decide on the election of national democratic institutions.”—AFP