India hopes democracy will be restored in Pak

NEW DELHI: India said on Tuesday it hoped for a restoration of democracy in Pakistan and for people to be able to elect a government of their choice.

Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee told reporters that India “was watching the situation” over the northern border.

“We do hope that the process of democratisation in Pakistan will begin and the people of Pakistan will get the opportunity to have their government as per their constitution,” the minister said.

“We want peace, stability, development and prosperity in Pakistan.” India said it regretted Musharraf declaring an emergency amid spiralling political turmoil and Islamist violence.

Mukherjee’s comments came after US President George W Bush urged Musharraf to end the state of emergency.