NEW YORK, April 6: The US State Department remained ambiguous and tentative in reacting to Pakistan President Gen Pervez Musharraf’s plan to hold referendum to stay in power beyond scheduled October elections and return to civilian rule.
On Friday State Department spokesman Philip Reeker said: “I think it is important that Pakistan follows constitutional procedures as it pursues this process, with legality of any particular action such as a referendum to be decided by the courts, if that is required.”
REEKER SAID: “We think that restoration of democratic, civilian rule is critical to Pakistan’s political and economic development. We have said that for a long time. And we think it is important that Pakistan follows constitutional procedures as it pursues this process, with legality of any particular action such as a referendum to be decided by the courts, if that is required. And so we support steps toward the return of civilian rule in Pakistan, in particular, the holding of free and fair provincial and national parliamentary elections in October, which they had also announced previously.”
QUESTION: If Pakistan, if they don’t follow the procedures you just outlined for return to civilian rule?
MR REEKER: “I guess that would be sort of hypothetical. You simply asked what our reaction was to this statement by President Musharraf. That’s what we think it should be. We think that is important for Pakistan’s future. We have applauded President Musharraf’s speech, where he outlined his own vision for Pakistan’s future back in January. So we will keep in close touch on that.”
Similarly when US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Donald Camp was asked to respond to the referendum plan said: “I am not going to indulge in the specific dynamics of politics in Pakistan.”
