President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan, in a speech to voters, stated that the army prevented Pakistan from being declared a terrorist state. General Musharraf was speaking to tens of thousands in Lahore on Tuesday. This marks the beginning of his efforts to gain support from Pakistani voters who are set to participate in a referendum on April 30. Voters will be asked whether they agree that General Musharraf should remain in power for another five years. Referring to what he called corrupt civilian governments, General Musharraf asked the people if they would prefer to return to the rule of plunderers. He seized power in a bloodless coup in 1999 and claims he wishes to remain in power to combat terrorism and corruption. Opponents consider the referendum unconstitutional.
The Beginning of President Musharraf's Efforts for a Referendum - 2002-04-10
President Pervez Musharraf is initiating efforts to secure voter support for a referendum on April 30, where voters will decide if he should remain in power for another five years. He argues that his leadership is necessary to prevent Pakistan from being labeled a terrorist state and to fight corruption. The referendum is contested by opponents who view it as unconstitutional.
👥 Key Players
⚡ Actions
📰 What Happened
President Musharraf seeks voter support for a referendum to extend his power amid claims of corruption.
- Pervez Musharraf announce Pakistani voters
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Musharraf's referendum efforts signal a consolidation of power amid claims of corruption.
📝 Key Evidence
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%