ISLAMABAD, March 20: Minister for Information and Media Development Nisar Memon on Wednesday said no decision has been taken for holding referendum before October elections.

Briefing the reports after the Cabinet meeting, the information minister refuted reports that a proposal of holding referendum came up for discussion at the meeting.

He parried questions whether the idea of referendum to get President Gen Musharraf elected for another five year and to legitimise his rule was being considered by the government.

The replies given by the minister about the reports of referendum which have been in the air for past few weeks, did not clear the suspicions that government might emulate former military dictator Zia-ul-Haq to seek a five-year term.

Political sources said that all the major political parties had started contacting each other informally to formulate a joint strategy in case the government exercise the option of referendum.