April 27, 2002	Saturday	Safar 13, 1423

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BRUSSELS, April 26: The European Parliament’s foreign affairs committee on Friday delayed approval of a new EU cooperation agreement with Pakistan, saying it would review the pact after the October elections.

Parliamentary sources said the committee decided to put off giving its opinion on the EU-Pakistan accord after several members voiced scepticism at the legality of the April 30 referendum.

Parliamentary approval of the pact is essential for implementation of the EU agreements with foreign nations.

The EU-Pakistan pact was signed in Islamabad last November as part of Europe’s post-September 11 drive to improve relations with Pakistan.

A statement by Irish MEP John Cushnahan, the parliamentary rapporteur on Pakistan, said he had asked for a delay in approving the pact following Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf’s decision to hold a referendum on April 30 to extend his presidency for a further five years.

Speaking at the Parliament’s foreign affairs committee this week, Cushnahan said the President’s move to call a referendum was “wholly inappropriate and in conflict with the Pakistan Constitution”. “A number of further concerns arise and not least of all the ability of political parties to campaign freely,” the Irish MEP said.

“Additionally, the fact that any citizen over the age of 18 who possesses a valid identity card would be able to vote at any polling station of their choice creates the potential for possible electoral fraud,” Cushnahan underlined.

“It is therefore not surprising that the proposed referendum has met with significant opposition from within Pakistan itself across a wide political spectrum,” he added.

Cushnahan told the committee that progress had been made in a number of key areas during President Musharraf’s presidency, adding: “There is strong appreciation for his support for the global anti-terrorism coalition.”

“There are nonetheless real and legitimate fears that President Musharraf’s decision represents a significant departure from his commitment to return the country to democracy by October of this year,” he warned. “I intend to closely monitor the referendum campaign as I believe whatever happens during it has far reaching implications for the October general election, to which I will also pay close attention,” the MEP added.

The foreign affairs committee will need to assess after the elections whether or not the “human rights and democratic principles” laid out in the EU-Pakistan have been respected, he said. “Only then will I be able to recommend to the committee whether or not we should give assent to the cooperation agreement,” Cushnahan said.