Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Islamabad (Agenzia Fides) - The situation in Pakistan has improved slightly. Tension has lessened since President Musharraf lifted the state of emergency on 16 December. Civil society is now reorganising in view of legislative elections on 8 January 2008.
However the political scene is still in movement and difficulties persist with regard to President Musharraf. Opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, has denounced the President's party, the Muslim League for planning electoral fraud, and has said the only way to ensure fair elections is to call in international observers.
The European Union has said it will send observers, but the role, rights and obligations of the electoral mission has still to be clarified. It is hoped it will respect international standards. The international community has called on the President to “eliminate all restrictions with regard to political rights and fundamental freedoms before the elections on 8 January, improve confidence in the political process and allow a ground for fair play for all political parties”.
Civil society organisations make their concerns known. In a report sent to Fides the Pakistan Commission for Peace and Human Development expressed serious concern for a fall in the standards of respect for human rights with repression of civil organisations, the judiciary, the media and calls for guarantees of freedom to be restored so the January vote may be authentic and not conditioned by a climate or terror or by a police state.
The Justice and Peace Commission of the Catholic Bishops of Pakistan has underlined the importance of promoting respect for individual rights of every citizen, and they urge the faithful to pray for the future of the country. In view of the elections, the local Catholic Church has launched a campaign to obtain a change in discriminating voting laws which affect religious minorities. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 19/12/2007 righe 26 parole 262)
