Brussels, 22/01/2008 (Agence Europe) - Seeking support before the general elections of 18 February, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf addressed the European Parliament foreign affairs committee on Monday 21 January, giving assurances that the elections would be free, fair and transparent. Pakistan is an important partner for the EU and a key player in the region, so “we are interested and concerned” by developments in the country, said committee chairman Jacek Saruysz-Wolski (EPP-ED, Poland). President Musharraf, keen to make known his point of view on the situation, asked MEPs to show greater understanding, several times inviting them to get a better idea of the reality by visiting Pakistan.
Stating that he wanted to set the record straight on a number of issues, President Musharraf delivered a long argument in favour of gradual democratisation, which he claimed he embodied, although, he admitted, much remained to be done. He highlighted, firstly, the economic successes recorded by Pakistan since he seized power in a coup in 1999 (he has since been re-elected, on 6 October of last year in contested presidential elections). He said the beginnings of a democratic system had been introduced in Pakistan but “we can't go as quickly as you. Give us a little time to get there”. He pointed out other progress made, such as the representation of women and minorities on political bodies, the fall in unemployment and access to health and education.
He spoke at length about the events which followed the 2007 presidential elections, still without convincing MEPs. “We worry about democracy just as much as you,” he said, stating that “the democratic process which was derailed had been put back on the rails”, thanks to the measures taken. The elections due to be held on 9 January had been pushed back, but “I can assure you that they will take place”, and that they would be “free, fair, transparent and peaceful”.
“We are combating terrorism because it is in Pakistan's interests,” and it remained a priority, he went on, refusing any conspiracy theories on the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. He added that “Pakistan is not a banana republic. We have never assassinated opponents”. The country was at the forefront of combating terrorism. “Help us. Stop criticising us and making insinuations about us and our intelligence services,” he cried.
As well as those who killed Benazir Bhutto, the facilitators and planners behind the assassination, “whose objective is simply to destabilise Pakistan”, had to be found, said José Ignacio Salafranca (EPP-ED, Spain). To those who felt that security measures had been insufficient, Musharraf responded with figures. “I refute these accusations”, he said, stating that she had been given maximum security (including four mobile escorts and 30 heavily armed police officers). He said he thought that Ms Bhutto had not shown enough caution. “We have experts in Pakistan,” and - unless it was thought they were not up to the job - with some forensic help from Scotland Yard, “we are perfectly capable of conducting the investigation,” he told MEPs, such as Ria Oomen Ruijten (EPP-ED, Netherlands), who called on him to agree to an international investigation.
“I hope that your anger does not mean that you suspect our government of involvement in this assassination. If this were the case, I would have to refute it,” he told Veronique de Keyser (PES, Belgium), who had engaged him sharply. “No, we don't welcome you with open arms”; with respect certainly, but also “with pain and anger” after the assassination of Ms Bhutto, she had said. She added, unhappy with the arguments of the Pakistani president, that a series of well-known and respected people had criticised the information and claims he had put forward. “If one is to talk about the achievements of Gen. Musharraf, then necessarily one has to assess the White House's 'war on terror',” said GUE-NGL leader, Frenchman Francis Wurtz, asking what strategic reviews those who had hitherto supported the US war on terrorism were now ready to make.
“There are no political prisoners in Pakistan today,” Musharraf told Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroek (ALDE, Belgium), adding that there was also freedom of the press in Pakistan. Responding to Elmar Brok (EPP-ED, Germany) who was concerned that a country with nuclear weapons could fall into the hands of fundamentalists, Musharraf gave assurances. There was “no risk”, he said: “What concerns me is what will happen after 18 February”.
After his meeting with the Pakistani president earlier in the day, Javier Solana restated that the EU was going to deploy a full electoral observation mission in Pakistan. Dimitrij Rupel, Slovenian Foreign Minister, who also met Mr Musharraf on Monday, welcomed the commitments taken by the Pakistani authorities to cooperate with this mission. Mr Musharraf continued his European tour with a visit to Paris on Tuesday, where he met the French president, Nicolas Sarkozy. He is due in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday for the World Economic Forum, before going on to London where he is to meet with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. (A.B.)