REFERENDUM: PEOPLE OF PAKISTAN TO DECIDE ACCORDING TO THEIR CONSCIENCE – COORDINATION COMMITTEE

Karachi – 7 April 2002
The Central Coordination Committee of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) held a marathon meeting at Nine Zero, the MQM Head Office in Karachi, which was also attended by the Members of the Coordination Committee present at the International Secretariat in London.  After protracted discussions and debate, the Coordination Committee has appealed to its office bearers, workers and sympathisers to decide for themselves according to their conscience that whether they wish to vote for the Referendum or not?  The Coordination Committee further stated that the Referendum is directly related and addressed to the people and not the political parties of Pakistan.   So as a political party, the MQM has decided to leave this matter with the people of Pakistan and now it is for them to decide according to their conscience.

The Coordination Committee said that at present the country is passing through a very critical geopolitical and strategic phase.  So entering into a debate over the constitutional position regarding the Referendum at this moment might create further chaos in the country.  Many questions may arise such as what constitutional position General Pervez Musharraf holds and why all the major political parties, except the MQM, participated in the Local Bodies Elections?  On the basis that holding the Local Bodies Elections is the duty of the Provincial Government, the MQM boycotted the Local Bodies Elections.

The Coordination Committee announced that as far as the principled stand of the MQM regarding the formation of the Government is concerned, it is very clear that the MQM believes in democracy and believes that democracy and not the Military Rule is the key to the success and prosperity of the country.  Establishing true democracy and flourishing it would lead the country to prosperity.  Furthermore, for national harmony, full autonomy should be given to the provinces according to the spirit of the 1940 Resolution.