Gallup survey reveals majority supports referendum [Archive] –
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Gallup survey reveals majority supports referendum
ISLAMABAD : A nationwide poll conducted by Gallup Pakistan showed that a majority of 58 percent supports the referendum while 42 percent oppose it.
Among those who favor the referendum an overwhelming majority of 90 percent supports Musharaf’s continuation for five years. Among those who oppose the referendum the vast majority of 92 percent are against Musharaf’s continuation as President.
There are nevertheless reservations about fairness in the conduct of referendum. Fifty-one percent said they did not believe the referendum would be held fairly whereas 45 percent said it would be fair. Four percent did not give any opinion.
The Gallup Poll also sought public opinion on the decision of President Musharaff to disallow former Prime Ministers Nawaz Shariff and Benazir Bhutto to participate in the forthcoming elections.
Around 55 percent of those sampled in this poll favored Nawaz Sharif’s exclusion and the remaining opposed it. In the case of Benazir Bhutto views were almost equally split.
As for Musharaf’s rallies, the respondents were asked, ” Is President Musharaff doing the right or wrong by holding the rallies?” Forty-one percent said that he was doing the right thing, 31 percent said he was wrong in holding rallies while 28 percent did not give a view.
The Gallup nationwide survey asked its respondents about the performance of President Musharaff since coming to power compared to other recent political governments. Thirty-eight percent said his performance was better than theirs, 21 percent thought it was worse while 41 percent said it was no different from previous governments.
The survey was conducted among more than 1250 men and women spread over the rural and urban areas of all the four provinces.
