Sunday, December 16, 2007
OTTAWA (AFP) — Canada urged Pakistan to ensure "free and fair" legislative elections next month, after President Pervez Musharraf earlier in the day lifted the state of emergency and last month resigned as head of the military.
"Canada welcomes President Musharraf's lifting of the state of emergency and stepping down as Chief of the Army Staff. We recognize these as positive steps," said Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier.
"However, we encourage the Government of Pakistan to create the conditions necessary for free and fair elections, including allowing electoral oversight by an independent judiciary, releasing all persons detained during the state of emergency, and lifting all restrictions on the media," he added.
Musharraf, who rode a bloodless military coup to power eight years ago, signed a decree Saturday lifting the state of emergency, as he promised, before the start of the election campaign on Sunday.
The 64-year-old army general drew international criticism when he put the country under emergency rule on November 3, citing a surge in attacks by Islamic militants as well as what he alleged was interference by the judiciary.
Opponents alleged the real reason for the emergency was to provide cover for a purge of anti-Musharraf judges, who could have entertained legal challenges to his controversial re-election in October.
Musharraf on November 28, also as promised, shed his military uniform as head of Pakistan's Armed Forces, which are now under the command of General Ashfaq Kiyani, and a day later was sworn in as the country's civilian president.
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