The Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) has extended the date of its Public Referendum from 8th November to 14th November in view of the International Defence Exhibition being held in Karachi. The defence exhibition Ideas 2012 is organized by the armed forces of Pakistan each year in which military equipment, arms and ammunition are put on display. This year the exhibition is being held from 7th November to 11th November and several defence related seminars would also be held along with the exhibition.
Director General Rangers Sindh Major General Rizwan Akhter contacted Governor Sindh Dr Ishratul Ebad and requested to reconsider the date of the referendum because of the current situation and the defence exhibition. Governor Dr Ebad brought this to the notice of MQM Founder and Leader Mr Altaf Hussain, who convened a meeting of the Co-ordination Committee in London and Pakistan and put the suggestion before them.
The Co-ordination Committee unanimously decided to extend the date of the public referendum after detailed discussions and keeping in view the national interest. It has now been decided that the public referendum will be held on 14th November 2012 throughout the country.
The Co-ordination Committee apologized to the nation for the inconvenience and said that the public would realize the gravity of the situation and make the public referendum of the MQM a huge success in the history of Pakistan.