ISLAMABAD Mar 20: President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday kicked off his campaign to take the politicians into confidence on the proposal of holding a referendum to get himself elected as president for another term.

In his meeting with a 33-person strong PML-QA delegation here on Wednesday the president said that he wanted to take steps to stop chances of military interference in the future and put democracy on track so that no one could de-rail it in future.

Although the Leaguers refused to share with the waiting journalists the details of their exchanges with the president on the issue of referendum ‘Dawn’ has learnt from informed sources that the proposal to hold a referendum has already been approved by the two-day corps commanders conference which ended on Tuesday.

Sources said, the details of the proposed referendum were being given the final touches by the National Reconstruction Bureau and election commission of Pakistan.

The president reportedly listened to the suggestions from the senior PML-QA leaders during his meeting with them which lasted for four and half hours (from 3.30pm to 8.00pm).

Prominent among the team members were, Gohar Ayub Khan, Chaudhry Shujaat, Ijazul Haq, Gen Majeed Malik, Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, Salim Saifullah Khan, Jam Yousuf, Haleem Siddiqui, Sad Junejo, Iftikhar Gilani, Fakhar Imam, Syeda Abida Hussain, Sarwar Kakar, Nisar Mohammad Khan and Ghaus Bakhsh Mahar.

Senior PML vice president Ijazul Haq later told newsmen that the president had discussed a number of issues including referendum informing the Leaguers that his government was considering various options and referendum was one of them.

When asked how would his party respond if and when a decision on holding the referendum is finally taken, he said “we will discuss it in our central working committee before showing our reaction”.

He did not elaborate on the details of the proposed referendum including the type of questions to be asked through the ballot.

The president, he said expressed his desire to strike a balance of power between various organs of the government, without curtailing the powers of the prime minister but with checks and balance. Musharraf wanted continuity of power to put the country’s economy on path of sustainable recovery and provide the investors assurance of continuity of policies.

The president, he said assured the PML-QA delegation that fair, free and transparent polls will be conducted in the month of October. Ijazul Haq said that the president also discussed formation of the proposed National Security Council and its composition as in his view such a body was necessary to oversee the smooth establishment and strengthening of democratic institutions.

Replying to a question whether the president discussed with League delegation any other option Ijaz answered in the negative.

The president provided an in-depth briefing to the Leaguers on country’s law and order situation, its decision of joining international coalition against terrorism, economic situation with reference to the signs of recovery that have come due to its policies, water crisis with its solution and many other matters.

On being pressed as to what advice his party leaders offered to the president on his intentions of holding referendum, Ijazul Haq said, “I asked him to keep past the experiences in view while bringing constitutional package”. President Musharraf told the delegation that a public debate would be initiated on the proposed constitutional package before enforcement.

Earlier, briefing newsmen, Azeem Chaudhri joint secretary of the party said that the president had desired to continue his meetings with all political parties and seek their opinion on the question of referendum and future setup. He said that we believe that the president would fulfil his promise of holding elections on time.