LAHORE, April 29: Explaining the reasons for Tehrik-i-Istiqlal’s support for the presidential referendum, its president opposed the appointment of coordinators at the union councils whose Nazims opposed the government.

Speaking at a press conference here on Monday, Rahmat Khan Vardag termed the appointment of coordinators a wrong move. He demanded that no obstacle should be created in the way of the elected people.

For their part, he said, the people who came into power (in the local councils) due to Gen Musharraf should be obliged to him and support him in the referendum.

Opposing the proposal of authorizing the president to dissolve the parliament, he said only the government should be ousted and the parliament should be allowed to elect a new prime minister.

Proposing direct election of the prime minister, he argued that this would eliminate horse trading.

He demanded that the term of the National and Provincial Assemblies should be reduced to three years. He also supported Gen Musharraf’s remaining chief of army staff and president of the country, at the same time.

Answering a question about the vote bank of the Pakistan People’s Party and the Pakistan Muslim League, he said ARD’s Saturday meeting had exposed their claims.

He advised the political parties opposing the referendum to ask the people instead to vote against the president.

He hoped that the general would get 80 per cent of the votes.