SHEIKHUPURA, PAKISTAN, Nov 12, Reuter: Benazir Bhutto’s barnstorming election campaign electrified large rallies in central Pakistan for the third successful day ‘On/Saturday but the Supreme Court issued a ruling that may harm her chances.

The High Court in Islamabad provisionally upheld’ a controversial government order limiting participation in next week’s election to voters with official identity cards

‘Opposition parties, including Bhutto’s Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) had challenged the condition as unconstitutional, saying it would prevent millions of people who do not possess the cards from voting.

The court said it would make a final decision on the issue at an unspecified later date but it did not say whether the ruling would be handed down before Wednesday’s general election, the first based on a multi-party system in 11 years,

Bhutto appeared to accept the ruling, “We will now go forth with our case before the highest court in the land — the people of Pakistan, she said in a statement.

She called’ on all voters on electoral lists who have no identity cards to go to the polling station in any case to help prevent people with fake cards from voting

“Remain peaceful, remain calm, do not let anyone or anything provoke you, but do not leave the polling camps,” Bhutto said ‘in the Statement. “We want fair elections and the peaceful way to do that is to neutralize the fake cards.”

Earlier touring dusty villages in Punjab province, she told reporters her main worry on polling day would be violence she expected from her opponents.

“These people have been stocking up Kalashnikous (assault rifles), They believe in vandalism,” she said. “We appeal to our people to remain calm and cool headed whatever the provocation.”

Bhutto said she was confident civil servants administering the vote would be fair and “serve Pakistan, not the (anti-Bhutto) Muslim league.”

Her opponents in the Islamic democratic alliance (IDA) have rejected charges that they will try to manipulate the result. They have pointed out that the last party based elections under a PPP government in 1977 where declared null and void amid allegations of widespread PPP cheating.

The Washington based national Democratic Institute (NDI) announced. Meanwhile that it was sponsoring a 25-member International delegation to monitor the elections,

A Noi statement said the delegation would be led by former Trish Minister of labor Ruairi Quinn and not President Brian Atwood. A seven member team from South Asian Countries has also been formed to monitor the elections.

IDA leaders have predicted a landslide win for the eight party alliances, while their campaign has gained momentum after a slow start it lacks the emotional fervor Bhutto’s presence aroused on her final campaign swing through Punjab.

Flag-waving, chanting crowds of farmworkers and their wives greeted Bhutto with extravagant displays of devotion at Hamlets and towns festooned with portraits of her and her executed father, former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

Some IDA leaders oppose her on the grounds that she is a woman and therefore cannot lead a Moslem nation.

But Bhutto told reporters her sex was no barrier to her winning. “Im proud of beinga woman, I’m proud of being a Moslem woman,” she said.

Women had provided strong leadership elsewhere, she said.

“Look at Margaret Thatcher and Indira Gandhi,” she said, citing the British and former Indian Prime Ministers.

Article extracted from this publication >> November 18, 1988