ISLAMABAD, April 18: Pakistan People's Party (PPP) has welcomed the European Union for condemning the military regime's poor record of human rights and democracy in Pakistan.

In a statement on Sunday, Parliamentary Leader of Democratic Alliance in the Senate and Deputy Secretary-General of the PPP Mian Raza Rabbani said respect for human rights and democratic principles underscored the policies of the European community and was an essential condition for the ratification of agreement with Pakistan.

He said the military regime in Pakistan still had to demonstrate respect for the constitution, transfer genuine power to the civil society and end violation of human rights of opposition politicians.

He said only last week the role of the military politics was formalised and civil-military equation re-written on the terms of the military alone thus dashing hopes of return to the civil rule.

Mr Rabbani said his party was of the view that ratification of the agreement at this stage would make the realization of these democratic objectives even more distant. He said the PPP reiterated the concern of the former EU rapporteur John Cushanan that it would be a major mistake if the European community ratified the agreement with Pakistan with the regime continuing the human rights violations.

He said the gross violation of human rights under Musharraf was evidenced from the 23-year jail sentence to Javed Hashmi, continued incarceration of Senator Asif Ali Zardari on trumped-up politically-motivated charges and denial of medical bail to him even after the court's verdict.

He said the best way to exert pressure on Musharraf regime, stop human rights violations and restore democracy was denying ratification of the agreement until the government improved its democracy and human rights record.

The PPP Senator said the democratic political parties in the country urge the European Parliament that the question of revival of the Framework Agreement be considered when genuine democracy has been restored in the country by separating the office of the president from the post of the chief of army staff, civil liberties are fully restored, the exiled political leadership is allowed to return safely to the country and the false treason case against the ARD president is withdrawn and all political workers released.