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KARACHI April 6: Major political parties, including Pakistan People’s Party, Jamaat-i-Islami and Pakistan Muslim League, have opposed the idea of President General Pervez Musharraf to extend his term for five years as president of the country through referendum.
The coordination committee of the PPP said the facts and figures pertaining to national economy and other issues as mentioned in the president’s speech were incorrect.
The PPP body, which met with Syed Qaim Ali Shah in the chair, discussed the presidential address, and said the language used in the speech was not appropriate.
It gave an impression that the president was all-out to extend his extension, said a press release issued after the meeting, adding “the general is creating a situation of conflicts”.
The meeting, attended by party’s secretary general Raza Rabbani, Naheed Khan, Dr Safdar Abbasi, Taj Haider, Prof N. D. Khan, Munawar Suharwardi and others, decided that the PPP would approach the people, intellectuals, journalists, workers, traders and investors, political parties and diplomatic circles and inform them about illegal steps of General Pervez Musharraf.
A meeting of the central executive committee and federal council of PPP has been convened on April 9 at the residence of Mian Misbahur Rehman in Lahore.
PML: Ejaz Shafee, Vice President of Pakistan Muslim League, termed the referendum a drama.
“What will be the working of assemblies, if everything is already decided and no one will be allowed to do something without getting permission of the president,” he asked.
Naib Amir of Jamaat-i-Islami Prof. Ghafoor Ahmed said there was a clear procedure for election of the president in constitution, and beyond this everything would be taken as unconstitutional.
According to PPI, the acting general secretary of PPP Raza Rabbani said an individual had no right to stop people to elect their beloved leaders and announced that the PPP would unveil a date for the return of its chairperson Benazir Bhutto from abroad to contest the polls after the announcement of election schedule.
He squarely refused to accept referendum and said there was no second opinion in the party over this issue.
“We would obviously take some decisions against the expected move of the government and an effective strategy would soon be finalized,” he added.
He further said that the ARD is likely to meet in the coming days to evolve its plan on the issue.
PAT: Pakistan Awami Tehrik chairman Dr Mohammad Tahirul Qadri announced his full support to the coming referendum announced by the president.
In a statement, he said the Pakistan Awami Tehrik would play a positive role in the referendum for ensuring continuity of the government’s policies and reforms agenda.
He further informed that the move would bring to an end the element of uncertainty.
PTI: Central Vice-President of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Dr Arif Alvi hailed the president’s address to the nation.
He said the speech of the President reflects the aspirations of the masses.
Dr Alvi stated that PTI supports every move of the present government that is for the welfare and betterment of 98 per cent population of the country.
Tehrik Awam: Chairman, Tehrik Awam Ahle Sunnat Pakistan, Haji Hanif Blue, announced his full support for Presidential referendum.
Talking to APP after the address to the nation by President General Pervez Musharraf on Friday, he said his organization would extend full support to the President and his reforms.
ANI: Chief of Anjuman Naujawanan-e-Islam, Tariq Mehboob, supported the President’s address to the nation and said it reflects the aspirations of the people.
In a statement on Saturday, Tariq Mehboob said that the establishment of National Security Council stands guarantee to real democracy.
A prominent scholar and political commentator, Prof. Dr Manzooruddin Ahmed, said the entire speech reflects the pragmatism and realism of the political environment in which Pakistan finds itself today.
