LONDON

The Commonwealth reacted coolly to the announcement Friday that Pakistan's military President Pervez Musharraf plans to hold a referendum on whether he should stay in power.

The 54-nation body, which suspended Pakistan after Musharraf's bloodless coup in 1999, indicated that next month's plebiscite appeared to be aimed at extending his term of office and that regular elections would be preferable.
Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon said he had been watching closely Pakistan's progress toward restoring democracy in accordance with a "roadmap" announced by Musharraf last year.

"In his discussions with me when we last met, General Musharraf reaffirmed his commitment to this roadmap," McKinnon said in a statement. "The roadmap did not include provision for such a referendum."

"Such a device has also been used in the past by a former military leader in Pakistan to extend his term of office," he added.

Army chief General Mohammad Zia-ul-Haq, who seized power in July 1977, extended his rule by use of a referendum.

"The Commonwealth would urge the application of established constitutional processes to decide on the election of national democratic institutions," McKinnon said.

Musharraf did not say how long he wanted to stay in office, but he is widely expected to seek the usual five-year term.
Analysts expect him to win by mobilizing the machinery of state, although the main political parties have declared their opposition to his plan.


[photo image: General Musharraf's TV speach on the National Da