Commonwealth Secretariat
  1. Home
  2. What's New
  3. Who We Are
  4. What We Do
    1. Democracy
    2. Economics
    3. Education
    4. Gender
    5. Governance
    6. Health
    7. Human Rights
    8. Law
    9. Small States
    10. Sport
    11. Sustainability
    12. Youth
    13. Millennium Development Goals
    14. Funding
  5. News
    1. Events
    2. News Archive Search
    3. Picture Stories
  6. Media Room
    1. Press Archive Search
    2. Media Contacts
    3. CommonwealthTV
    4. Podcast: Pick of the Commonwealth
    5. Events
    6. In the Media
    7. Updates
    8. Downloads
  7. Resources
    1. Documents
    2. Image Library
    3. Libary & Archives
    4. Publications
  8. Publications
  9. Employment
  10. FAQs
    1. Acronyms
  11. Contact Us
Commonwealth Secretariat press release

Commonwealth Secretary-General comments on proposed referendum in Pakistan

5 April 2002

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Don McKinnon, made the following remarks today in response to the announcement by General Pervez Musharraf of a national referendum on his Presidency:

"I have seen reports on General Pervez Musharraf's address to the nation today announcing the decision to hold a referendum in Pakistan in the first week of May 2002 on the question of extending his term as President.

"The Commonwealth has been closely monitoring progress in Pakistan on the restoration of democracy in accordance with the roadmap announced by General Musharraf last year. In his discussions with me when we last met, General Musharraf reaffirmed his commitment to this roadmap. The roadmap did not include provision for such a referendum.

"While we are awaiting further details, the holding of a referendum on the extension of General Musharraf's term in office would therefore not appear to be in keeping with the roadmap announced by him. Such a device has also been used in the past by a former military leader in Pakistan to extend his term in office. The Commonwealth would urge the application of established constitutional processes to decide on the election of national democratic institutions."

02/31 5 April, 2002

Share this page
About this

ISSUED BY THE COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS DIVISION
Commonwealth Secretariat Marlborough House Pall Mall London SW1Y 5HX United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)20 7747 6385/6 Fax: +44 (0)20 7839 9081
Email: info@commonwealth.int