Brown,Commonwealth welcomes lifting of emergency
Pakistan lifting of the State of Emergency can see a return to the freer media climate, restoration of constitution that has been a positive feature of Pakistan in recent years.
Western nations hope lifting emergency will stabilize the nuclear-armed state amid chaos and commotion a level play ground for free and fair elections as expressed by various head of states.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown hailed the lifting of Pakistan's state of emergency as a "significant step" Saturday.
After a telephone call with President Pervez Musharraf, Brown also called for a "level playing field" in next month's parliamentary elections.
"This is another significant step towards the return of full constitutional order," Brown said in a statement. "I also told President Musharraf that the international community supports his wish -- and that of the people of Pakistan -- to hold free and fair elections on 8 January.
"As President Musharraf has said, and I have full confidence in his assurances to me, these must offer a level playing field to all political parties.
"Concrete measures should include increased transparency of the electoral process, prevention of local government abuse, a non-partisan election commission, release of remaining political detainees and the lifting of all restrictions on the media."
Brown added that he had offered Musharraf his condolences after a suicide attack earlier Saturday, which killed five soldiers.
"Britain will continue to work with Pakistan and the Commonwealth to ensure stability, security and democracy," he added.
Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon, welcoming the development, said: “With just over three weeks to go before Pakistan goes to the polls, the lifting of the State of Emergency is an important step in the process of creating the conditions for the holding of the elections.”
Mckinnon said, “This follows the earlier relinquishment by President Musharraf of his position as Chief of Army Staff, which had been a longstanding demand of Commonwealth Heads of Government, reiterated most recently at their meeting in Kampala.”
The Secretary-General said he was encouraged by these developments and the fact that most political parties had announced their intention to participate in the elections.
Appreciating the release of political detainees and human rights activists, he expressed the hope that all remaining political detainees would also be released soon.
He called upon the Election Commission of Pakistan to do all in its power to ensure that the elections are conducted in a fair and transparent manner.
McKinnon expressed concern over the continuing restrictions on private media broadcasters. He expressed the hope that the lifting of the State of Emergency can see a return to the freer media climate that has been a positive feature of Pakistan in recent years.
The Secretary General also reaffirmed the Commonwealth’s commitment to continued engagement with Pakistan, as a valued member, and to work to support its return to democratic government.
People of Pakistan,Political Leaders,experts and intellectuals feel that country will be divided in between three nodal forces Military runs politics management,the Political parties expressing their solidarity with restoration of ouster of Judges,freedom of Media, third is Islamic conservatives puts the the people of Pakistan divided into such fractured state may result to fractured mandate which may bring more chaos and furore as fundamentalist will have free hand.
Imran Khan cricket turned politician,Former P M's Sharif and Benazir Bhutto opposition parties have said the government has the power to rig votes.The legislatures will be rubber stamped ones with little or no freedom.
Western nations hope lifting emergency will stabilize the nuclear-armed state amid chaos and commotion a level play ground for free and fair elections as expressed by various head of states.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown hailed the lifting of Pakistan's state of emergency as a "significant step" Saturday.
After a telephone call with President Pervez Musharraf, Brown also called for a "level playing field" in next month's parliamentary elections.
"This is another significant step towards the return of full constitutional order," Brown said in a statement. "I also told President Musharraf that the international community supports his wish -- and that of the people of Pakistan -- to hold free and fair elections on 8 January.
"As President Musharraf has said, and I have full confidence in his assurances to me, these must offer a level playing field to all political parties.
"Concrete measures should include increased transparency of the electoral process, prevention of local government abuse, a non-partisan election commission, release of remaining political detainees and the lifting of all restrictions on the media."
Brown added that he had offered Musharraf his condolences after a suicide attack earlier Saturday, which killed five soldiers.
"Britain will continue to work with Pakistan and the Commonwealth to ensure stability, security and democracy," he added.
Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon, welcoming the development, said: “With just over three weeks to go before Pakistan goes to the polls, the lifting of the State of Emergency is an important step in the process of creating the conditions for the holding of the elections.”
Mckinnon said, “This follows the earlier relinquishment by President Musharraf of his position as Chief of Army Staff, which had been a longstanding demand of Commonwealth Heads of Government, reiterated most recently at their meeting in Kampala.”
The Secretary-General said he was encouraged by these developments and the fact that most political parties had announced their intention to participate in the elections.
Appreciating the release of political detainees and human rights activists, he expressed the hope that all remaining political detainees would also be released soon.
He called upon the Election Commission of Pakistan to do all in its power to ensure that the elections are conducted in a fair and transparent manner.
McKinnon expressed concern over the continuing restrictions on private media broadcasters. He expressed the hope that the lifting of the State of Emergency can see a return to the freer media climate that has been a positive feature of Pakistan in recent years.
The Secretary General also reaffirmed the Commonwealth’s commitment to continued engagement with Pakistan, as a valued member, and to work to support its return to democratic government.
People of Pakistan,Political Leaders,experts and intellectuals feel that country will be divided in between three nodal forces Military runs politics management,the Political parties expressing their solidarity with restoration of ouster of Judges,freedom of Media, third is Islamic conservatives puts the the people of Pakistan divided into such fractured state may result to fractured mandate which may bring more chaos and furore as fundamentalist will have free hand.
Imran Khan cricket turned politician,Former P M's Sharif and Benazir Bhutto opposition parties have said the government has the power to rig votes.The legislatures will be rubber stamped ones with little or no freedom.
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