‘Loaded Question’ in Pakistan Referendum

Your editorial (Dec. 14), “Pakistan’s Loaded Question,” is based upon inexact information. No wonder its conclusions are inaccurate and the judgment harsh.

The voters in the Dec. 19 referendum were not being asked to vote on Islam but on President Zia-ul-Haq’s policy of Islamization of Pakistan’s polity. A negative vote, therefore, was not a vote against Islam but a vote of no-confidence against President Zia. He has said repeatedly since he announced the referendum on Dec. 1 that he will honor the verdict whatever it may be. Your misgivings that “those who vote will be asked to provide only one answer” are, therefore, not quite valid.

Equally erroneous is the assertion that “those who disapprove of Zia could demonstrate their feelings by not voting at all.” Those calling for a boycott of the referendum are not the “braver political opponents” as you seem to think; pragmatists perhaps who think that discretion is the better part of valor.

President Zia did not execute Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. The latter was tried for conspiracy to murder a political opponent on a complaint which was filed and hushed up during his days in office. It was revived after his fall by his intended victim. The Lahore High Court, which heard the complaint, handed down a unanimous verdict sentencing Bhutto to death. He appealed to the Supreme Court, which heard his appeal over a number of months and upheld the High Court’s verdict. He was thus executed in pursuance of a High Court judgment, which was confirmed by the Supreme Court.

M.I. BUTT

Minister (Information)

Embassy of Pakistan

Washington, D.C.