Political rivals of Pervez Musharraf, the military president of Pakistan, have challenged his plan to hold a referendum in May to extend his rule. The parties of two former prime ministers of Pakistan, currently in exile, namely Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, have declared that this plan is illegal and they will urge the public to boycott the voting. The Secretary of the Commonwealth countries, which has 54 member states, also stated that this referendum does not seem to align with Pakistan's program for a return to democracy by the end of this year. Mr. Musharraf says that during the referendum next month, voters will be asked what role he should play after the parliamentary elections in October. General Musharraf seized power in a bloody coup in 1999 and subsequently declared himself president.
Challenge to Pervez Musharraf - April 6, 2002
Pervez Musharraf's plan for a May referendum to extend his rule is being challenged by political rivals, including exiled former prime ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, who deem it illegal. The Commonwealth Secretary has also expressed concerns about the referendum's alignment with Pakistan's democratic transition timeline.
👥 Key Players
⚡ Actions
📰 What Happened
Political rivals of Musharraf challenge his referendum plan in Pakistan.
- Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif announce Pervez Musharraf
- Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif urge public
- Secretary of the Commonwealth countries state Pervez Musharraf
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The political challenges to Musharraf's referendum highlight tensions in Pakistan's governance.
📝 Key Evidence
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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Translation confidence: 85%