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Musharraf dismisses widespread concern about election irregularities
Pakistani military ruler, Pervez Musharraf, has dismissed widespread concern about electoral irregularities in the referendum that extended his presidency by five years.
The general who seized power in a 1999 coup told a small group of foreign journalists that isolated cases of multiple voting or manipulation could not be avoided and should not be used to discredit his overwhelming victory.
According to the official figures, Musharraf secured 97.5 percent of some 43.9 million votes cast in Tuesday's poll, but the referendum was mired in allegations of fraud and vote-rigging.
However, General Musharraf said he was proud the government had succeeded in holding a referendum that was "fair, open and impartial".
He also delcared he was proud that people had so much faith in him.
General Musharraf said he now had the mandate of the people and the supreme court to change the constitution ahead of parliamentary elections in October, when he would hand over power to the elected prime minister.
04/05/2002 21:26:22 | ABC Radio Australia News
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