LAHORE, April 29: The continuation of Gen Musharraf as COAS even after becoming president after the “fraud” referendum would be a continuation of the army rule and violation of the road map given for democracy, Qazi Husain Ahmad told a Commonwealth delegation here on Monday.

The delegation comprised political affairs division director Jon Sheppard and senior programme officer Mrs K. Falkner.

The Jamaat chief told them that though his party did not appreciate external interference in the national affairs, it lauded the worries of world bodies as observers over the violation of constitution, democracy and human rights.

He told them that holding of referendum without a voters’ list was illegal and unconstitutional which would undermine the status of the nation in the eyes of the world.

Replying to a question about the Jamaat’s plea in the apex court, which was dismissed, the Qazi said as a result of the SC verdict, Gen Musharraf’s stance on the legality and constitutionality of the referendum exposed and nullified.

The SC, he pointed out, held that they handed down the decision in the light of the Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO) promulgated by the military regime as the Constitution was held in abeyance since October 12 military takeover.

Jamaat counsel Dr Farooq Hasan briefed the Commonwealth team about the maintainability of the Qazi’s constitutional plea in the SC saying that the materialization of Gen Musharraf’s dream about the future line of action would give rise to a subservient parliament against the will of Constitution and true democracy.