Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Lahore (Agenzia Fides) – “The situation is a pretty difficult one. There is a power struggle going on, as the country lies in desperate need of reforms, guarantees, and rights, political and economic stability,” says Peter Jacob, a Catholic layman who serves as the Secretary of the Justice and Peace Commission for the Church in Pakistan. He spoke with Agenzia Fides just days before the presidential elections scheduled to take place September 6. Jacob explained that among the country’s priorities is “a process for democratic reform; the fight against fundamentalism and the struggle for social peace; economic reform that would guarantee the public welfare, especially for the most underprivileged groups.” In particular, he mentioned hat “the question of religious minorities remains an unresolved matter. For example, with Christianity, there is a need to ensure that their rights and freedoms are respected, as are those of any other citizen. The Justice and Peace Commission itself has always worked for a full respect of religious minorities in the country.
Pakistan is preparing for presidential elections following the stepping-down of former President General Pervez Musharraf, this past August 18. Musharraf, who has been in power since the coups in 1999, has been obliged to step down after accusations of his having violated the Constitution, manipulating the election results for the President in October 2007 and declaring martial law, removing Judge Pervez Musharraf, Head of the Supreme Court and all other voices that seemed hostile to him.
There are 3 presidential candidates. The favorite in the race is Asif Ali Zardari, widower of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto (assassinated in an attack in December 2007), who is supported by the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). The other two candidates are Magistrate Saeed-uz-Zaman Siddiqui, from the Pakistani Muslim League (PML), whose party members include Nawaz Sharig and Mushahid Hussain, close allies of former President Musharraf.
The vote will be taken by members of the two Houses of Parliament and the 4 Provincial Assemblies of the State.
The country, with its 168 million inhabitants, is experiencing social instability and terrorist attacks that have left 1,200 people dead in one year. In the meantime, the army is trying to block the advancement of Islamic rebels allied to Al-Qaeda and the Taliban, who are present in the tribal areas of the country’s northwest. One of the most recent attacks was on Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, member of the PPP, whose automobile became the target of gunfire in Rawalpindi. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 4/9/2008)
