ISLAMABAD, April 16: The federal cabinet here on Tuesday decided to counter opposition parties by holding rallies and public meetings in large number throughout the country.

Informed sources said the meeting, presided over by President Gen Pervez Musharraf, also briefly discussed new amendments to be made to the Constitution, especially meant for striking a balance in the powers of the president, the prime minister and the chief of the army staff.

The president told the cabinet that he was not expecting such an enthusiastic response from the people in public rallies in favour of referendum.

The sources said that every minister gave feedback on referendum and all were sanguine the people would elect the president for five years. It was decided that all ministers would concentrate on their areas to garner public support for the referendum.

The cabinet also discussed the coverage of president’s public meetings and rallies. Some participants believed there was a need to approach the editors for more coverage, the sources said.

“We have also discussed our new strategy to win more support for the referendum,” said a participant.

According to an official announcement, the meeting reviewed the progress of the referendum campaign. It expressed satisfaction over the “overwhelming response” of the general public to the president’s call for referendum which was manifest in the huge turnout at all the rallies held so far.

The cabinet was of the view that the public-oriented policies launched by the government “have started accruing benefits to the public” and the common man wanted the continuation of these policies so that no government in future could undo them.

The cabinet resolved to continue with the government’s policy of economic revival and providing relief to the common man. It was also observed that the local government system in the country had started taking roots and was functioning in the manner it was envisaged.