ASIA/PAKISTAN - Catholic Bishops call for end of emergency and release of detainees

Lahore (Agenzia Fides) - Almost a month since President Musharraf declared a state of emergency on 3 November the Catholic Bishops have called the government to restore respect for citizens' constitutional rights and freedoms.
The appeal is signed by Archbishop Lawrence Saldanha of Lahore and Bishop Anthony Lobo of Islamabad-Rawalpindi, respectively president and secretary of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Pakistan.
The Bishops speak on behalf of 1.5 million Pakistani Catholics who serve the country with schools, hospitals and social care centres. The Bishops expressed their "shock and condemnation over the attacks on civil society for merely expressing their right of conscience and free expression. Peaceful gatherings of Lawyers and Human Rights activists were disrupted with brute force and also the media was suppressed as never before. We consider this to be a very bad sign for the country, and this grave concern is also voiced by the international community.”
The appeal lists recommendations: "Restoration of fundamental rights which would require lifting of the state of emergency and return to constitutional rule without delay. Since democracy is dependent on a proper justice system, therefore it is urgent and necessary to restore the independence of the judiciary. The judges placed under de facto house arrest must be allowed free movement and expression. Restrictions on the media do not match with ideals of a free nation, therefore, all curbs on the print and electronic media must end. People detained after the imposition of emergency including lawyers, political activists, students and human rights defenders must be released immediately and unconditionally. An independent, credible and acceptable Election Commission must be constituted. There should be a level playing field for all parties to contest the coming general elections." These measures the Bishops say will achieve a meaningful, stable and sustainable democracy and build inter-religious and inter-sectarian peace and harmony for a peaceful and prosperous Pakistan (PA) (Agenzia Fides 27/11/2007 righe 26 parole 269)