ISLAMABAD, April 5: President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Friday announced a referendum to be held in the first week of May to seek popular support for extending his rule by five years.

In his address to the nation over radio and TV, he ruled out any role for Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif in politics because of their alleged involvement in corruption and destruction of the country’s institutions.

The president extensively talked about his political and economic achievements during the last two and a half years, and expressed hopes that people would support him in the referendum to resolve major issues.

“You have to draw a line whether you want the continuation of the reform process or you do not agree with this process,” he said, asking those sitting on the fence to take a decision to side with him with a view to strengthening “real democracy” and achieving convincing economic revival.

Gen Musharraf pointed out that by deciding to hold a referendum he was not violating the Constitution.

“We have consulted constitutional experts... therefore there is no question of any violation of the Constitution.”

He said the chief election commissioner would shortly be fixing the date for the referendum.

The president said there would be an effective National Security Council to ensure checks and balances among the three power brokers: the president, the prime minister and the chief of the army staff.

He said the prime minister would have all the powers to efficiently run the country and there would be no “unnecessary interference” from the president. “The PM will run the government with all the authority but he (PM) will have to ensure that the national interest is not comprised.

“I believe that I have a role to achieve political stability and create an investment-friendly environment,” he asserted.

He said that general elections would be held in October and added that nobody should have any doubts about that. “I do not know why some people are trying to create doubts in the minds of people that there will be no elections.”

The president kept becoming emotional during his one-hour-and- 45-minute speech, especially when he referred to the past governments. “They are now eying to swallow 5.3 billion dollar foreign exchange reserves which we have collected after a lot of hard work,” he said, adding the nation should take notice of the wrongdoing of the past governments.

He tried to dispel the impression that he was following in the footsteps of Ayub Khan and Gen Zia to become the president through unfair means. “I am not Ayub Khan or Ziaul Haq, I am Pervez Musharraf,” he said, adding he was not a hypocrite and was only a well-wisher and sincere friend of people.

He said there would be a single constituency and 100,000 polling stations to cast vote in the referendum for which 18 year olds have also been allowed to take part. “There will be a simple questionnaire and my hope is that people will elect me and prove wrong all the ill-wishers of Pakistan”.

Criticizing the media, the president said that newspapers were writing against him and his referendum plan. “They are writing against me and my government without having proper knowledge of things.”

“I have been advised not to go for referendum but I want to tell the nation today that I am a soldier and I do not fear from danger and I am ready to take the risk in the larger national interest.”

The president pointed out that he would amend the Constitution to have harmony with the future cabinet and parliament so that the new government could complete its tenure.

“We will propose amendments to the Constitution so that there is no crisis situation. We want to bring in amendments to resolve political crisis without removing the governments.”

The purpose of these amendments, he said, would be to ensure that the vehicle of democracy does not get derailed and constitutional issues are resolved amicably.

Claiming that since he had introduced a national development strategy, taken a stand against religious extremists and carried out a crackdown on terrorists, Gen Musharraf said he deserved to be elected by people. “We have averted the chances of being declared a terrorist state. My government has proved that Pakistan is not a failed state.”

The president said he did not want to enter politics but was forced to do so to serve the country.

The circumstances after Sept 11 events, he said, had changed the whole world and under these circumstances “we can proudly say that we have enhanced our national stature and saved our economy from destruction”.

He said his government had introduced reforms in economic, political and social sectors, and added that the devolution system had stared working at grassroots and the good governance was being ensured at all levels.

He said efforts were being made to remove inter-provincial disharmony and law and order situation was being improved.

The president admitted that whatever had been done by his government was not sufficient and that a lot more was still needed to be done to improve socio-economic conditions.

He listed four issues which would continue to get priority, i.e. economic revival, poverty alleviation, good governance and political restructuring.

He said he knew that prices needed to be reduced and more jobs created to reduce poverty. However, he added, he cannot ensure jobs for 140 million people of the country as it would take time to do so. “But I can say that a direction has been set to achieve the desired results.”

One of the reasons for price-hike, he said, was the wrong policies of the past governments. For example, he pointed out, the PPP government allowed 14 IPPs to set up thermal power stations that increased the price of electricity. Other governments, he said, launched bigger uneconomic development projects that also increased the level of inflation.

He claimed that turn-around in all the departments had been achieved and added that Pakistan Railways, Pakistan Steel and PIA, which had been incurring huge losses in the past, were made profitable.

He said one of the biggest achievements of his government was to get $12.5 billion loans restructured by the Paris Club. “We are not taking loans for consumption as was done by the past governments.” He said his government had paid off hard loans which was also a big achievement. The president said that the seven-point agenda which was announced by him immediately after taking over in 1999, was being implemented in letter and in spirit.