Strasbourg, 14/11/2007 (Agence Europe) - The path taken by Pakistan since the establishment of the state of emergency on 3 November is an impasse. The European Parliament, Council and Commission “share the same fundamental and immediate objectives” of a return to democratic life in the country, the Portuguese Secretary of State for European Affairs, Manuel Lobo Antunes, said on Wednesday 14 November. At a debate held in plenary on the situation in Pakistan (a resolution will be adopted on Thursday), MEPs often shared the same fears, expressing largely the same demands. An end to the state of emergency and re-establishment of the Supreme Court are essential with a view to the legislative elections, for which the EU is hesitant about sending an electoral observation mission, they said, calling for the liberation of political prisoners, and the departure of the Pakistani President, Pervez Musharraf, from his post as head of the armed forces.
The establishment of the state of emergency and the tensions which have followed constitute a “very serious step backwards in the rule of law” and are “a set-back in strengthening the legitimacy of democratic institutions in Pakistan”, Mr Lobo Antunes said. Demanding the restoration of the freedom of the press and the liberation of political prisoners, he said that he was “very seriously concerned” by the human rights violations, which are not the right conditions needed in which to hold credible democratic elections in January 2008. Although it recognises the country's security challenges, the EU cannot countenance a solution which involves an interruption in the democratic process, the Portuguese Secretary of State said, going on to point out that that the country had been “an ally on which we have always been able to count in the fight against terrorism”.
In the view of Benita Ferrero Waldner, a grave blow has been dealt to democracy. The country finds itself without any doubt in a dangerous situation, with internal and external extremist threats, but we also see other things, observed the External Relations Commissioner, who denounced the attack on the judicial system, the arrest of human rights advocates and opponents; in short of people who are committed to “an open and tolerant Pakistan”. Against this backdrop, the holding of the elections remains uncertain. It is of “major importance to announce a definitive date for the elections with a clear timetable leading to the lifting of the state of emergency”, Ms Ferrero-Waldner insisted. She explained that in the current situation “it does not look possible to deploy an electoral observation mission”. Nonetheless, “if the state of emergency were to be lifted fairly rapidly and if the conditions improve significantly soon, I could be in a position to review the situation”, she said, without having any illusions. Given the nature of the aid supplied by the EU to Pakistan, which essentially revolves around reducing poverty and supporting education in the north-east of the country and in Baluchistan, the Commissioner, like Mr Lobo Antunes, called for caution before planning any suspension of European assistance.
“We must demonstrate a great deal of caution”, agreed Ignacio Salafranca (PPE-DE, Spain), who also recalled Pakistan's close association with the fight against terrorism and its status as a nuclear power. The EU must now “demand that the government (of Pakistan, edit.), as far as possible, restores order” and also mobilise all of its capacities to follow the electoral process which is so essential to the region's stability. The “very serious” situation of the last fortnight led Robert Evans (PSE, UK) to demand that the Commission “review its aid to Pakistan”. European funds should be transferred through civil NGOs and not via the government, he added, indicating that his group would also like the Council to envisage targeted sanctions against Islamabad. He was supported in this by Jean Lambert (Green/ALE, UK), who agreed that sanctions were necessary if Mr Musharraf does not resign and put an end to the state of emergency. Pakistan is at a crossroads and the President must understand that he has the opportunity to demonstrate who are the real guardians of power by ending the state of emergency, returning power to the Supreme Court and guaranteeing free and democratic elections, said Sajjad Karim (ALDE, UK). Pakistan's role in the fight against terrorism is of no importance, it does not justify the current gaps in the rule of law, argued Eoin Ryan (UEN, Ireland), who stressed that the establishment of the state of emergency is a “flimsy pretext” on the part of Musharraf to avoid his election being invalidated by the Supreme Court. The same tone was adopted by Neena Gil (PSE, UK), who sees the establishment of martial law as an attempt to destabilise the country based on “the ambition of a single man”. In spite of the real threat of extremism in the country, Mr Musharraf's actions will only “encourage the radicals”, she said. She also castigated the “softness of the EU”, which should give an extremely clear response to the Pakistani President on the consequences of his actions. (A.B.)