Referendum a farce: PML

Published April 30, 2002

ISLAMABAD, April 29: Pakistan Muslim League on Monday termed the referendum a farce as the regime is reported to have gathered millions of votes even before the polling day.

The PML spokesman in a statement claimed that through sources inside NRB, they had learnt that the bureau had already prepared fictitious results showing 60 per cent turnout with over 90 per cent ‘yes’ votes.

He also cited press reports quoting an officer of the ISPR that “ballot papers were taken to some army units in Rawalpindi where the officers were given the option of giving their preference in favour of Gen Musharraf before April 30”. Similar exercises were conducted in Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, project management organization, Nescom, 501 workshops, and other departments, he added.

The spokesman also referred to earlier reports suggesting massive pre-poll rigging by the regime to forestall any possibility of a negative vote.

He also referred to the orders that no trains will be allowed to leave the platform until the passengers had voted according to the dictates of military personnel.