Brussels, 07/11/2007 (Agence Europe) - International pressure is growing for Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to end the state of emergency declared on 3 November and hold the general election planned for January 2008. In a statement on 6 November, the EU said it was “deeply concerned” about the situation in Pakistan, where basic liberties have been suspended. The Portuguese presidency “strongly reiterates the importance of holding free and fair elections on schedule, of restoring civilian rule and the full respect for human rights, including the independence of the judiciary and freedom of the media”. The EU, concerned by the high numbers of arrests of political leaders, lawyers, journalists, human rights activists and representatives of civil society, and hoping that the conditions necessary for the conduct of free and fair elections will be in place, has called on the government of Pakistan to take urgent action to: - restore the constitution; - put in place the necessary conditions to guarantee free and fair elections on schedule in January; - release all political prisoners, including members of the judiciary, as well as Ms Asma Jahangir, UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion and belief; - honour the president's commitment to step down as Chief of Army Staff by 15 November; - energetically pursue reconciliation with the political opposition; - and relax restrictions on the media.
During a debate organised by the European Parliament human rights sub-committee on Monday 5 November, MEPs, too, were critical of the state of emergency imposed by the Pakistani president. This meeting with NGOs working in Pakistan and Bangladesh had been arranged long ago, but the events of last weekend provided fuel for the discussion. The events were described as “unacceptable” by Jo Leinen (PES, Germany), and “worrying” by the chairwoman of the sub-committee, French Green MEP Hélène Flautre. Various speakers wondered about suspending European aid to Pakistan, but were mindful of the fact that this aid was for poverty reduction and improving educational provision. (A.B.)