News In Brief

Pakistani leader orders referendum on Islamization

Pakistan's military ruler, Muhammad Zia ul-Haq, has ordered a referendum on Dec. 19 on his Islamization policies, saying approval means he would remain president for another five years. The referendum will pose only one question: whether voters approve of General Zia's program to enforce an Islamic order in Pakistan and transfer power to elected representatives after elections to be held by next March.

The main opposition alliance - the Movement for the Restoration of Democracy, which comprises 11 banned political parties - denounced the surprise move as a fraud.