Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Islamabad (Agenzia Fides) - The political situation in Pakistan evolves as the state of emergency proclaimed by Heneral Pervez Musharraf, on 3 November continues. The Supreme Court has rejected another appeal against the validity of the election as president of Musharraf, who may now undertake the five year mandate assigned to him in parliamentary elections on 6 October. The national parliament and the regional parliaments elected the general to the presidency. But the opposition appealed to the court to annul the vote. After declaring a state of emergency, Musharraf replaced hostile judges with his own men.
The court sentence did not satisfy the opposition and civil society organisations which last week staged a large protest demonstration. Sectors of the opposition are called for a boycott of the elections announced for 9 January since this would “legitimate the action of Musharraf ad his unconstitutional regime”.
Human Rights Watch and many civil society associations called on the Pakistan to release dismissed supreme court president Iftikhar Chaudhry, and other magistrates under house arrest since 3 November.
In the meantime religious minorities wait for developments in the sitaution, demanding respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. In particular they call for a change in the voting system which penalises non Muslim citizens (the voters are separated in religious communities and can only vote for members of their own religion. The 15 million Christian citizens in Pakistan wish to see the rights and dignity respected and safeguarded.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 22/11/2007 righe 27 parole 279)
