Britain has asked Pakistan to ensure that the forthcoming presidential and parliamentary elections in the country are held in a free and fair manner.
LONDON: Britain has asked Pakistan to ensure that the forthcoming presidential and parliamentary elections in the country are held in a free and fair manner, facilitating all political parties to participate.
"The UK looks to the Pakistan Government to ensure that the forthcoming presidential and parliamentary elections are held in a free and fair manner in which it is equally possible for all political parties to participate," Britain's Minister for Europe, Geoffrey Hoon has said.
Replying to a debate in the House of Commons on 'Restoration of Democracy in Pakistan' initiated by Respect Party leader George Galloway, Hoon said Britain welcomed the appointment of an independent Election Commissioner as an important first step towards those free and fair elections.
"We are supporting President Pervez Musharraf and his team in their efforts to provide free and fair elections, and to strengthen the role of local election monitors," he said, adding "we call on Government of Pakistan and the Election Commission to continue their work on voter registration."
Referring to the demand from Galloway that Musharraf should end his dual role as Head of State and Chief of Army Staff, Hoon said, "The UK remains committed to the declaration made by Commonwealth Heads of Government in Malta in 2005, to which Pakistan also agreed, that until the two offices of Head of State and Chief of Army staff are separated, the process of democratization in Pakistan will not be irreversible."
Hoon welcomed President Musharraf's commitment to promoting "enlightened moderation". The recent reform of the Hudood laws was an important step forward in human rights and democracy in Pakistan.
"Ministers have consistently raised human rights questions with the Pakistani government, welcome their efforts on the women's protection Bill, for example.
"Follow up by the British Government detailed a number of our human rights concerns in Pakistan and offered UK support on a range of connected issues," he said.
One of those issues was the effect of the blasphemy laws on religious minority groups.
"We have welcomed Pakistan's efforts to address that issue, and encourage further reform of discriminatory legislation. I am aware of the continuing problems faced by minority groups in Pakistan, such as the Christian community in the North-West Frontier Province. We continue to monitor closely the developments in these cases."
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