25 April 2004	Sunday	04 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1425

ISLAMABAD, April 24: Pakistan People's Party on Thursday welcomed the European Parliament's resolution on military regime's human rights record and democracy and termed it encouraging for democratic forces in the country.

Commenting on the European Parliament's ratification of economic agreements with Pakistan, the PPP spokesman, Senator Farhatullah Babar, said it had provided little comfort to the military regime.

"The European Parliament while endorsing the agreement has also unanimously criticized the abysmal record of human rights and democracy in Pakistan under a semi-military dictatorship, the spokesman added.

The vote of criticism passed with 394 votes for and none against should open the eyes of rulers to the way its sham democratic credentials are viewed by the international community.

"It is encouraging that the European Parliament also has decided to keep a close watch on the progress towards democracy in Pakistan. For this purpose that the agreement will be reviewed within one year of implementation.

"It is also encouraging that the European Parliament asked the European Commission to prepare an assessment to the parliament indicating progress in human rights and democratization in Pakistan and to recommend action if there has been insufficient progress in this regard," Senator Babar maintained.

The resolution expressed concern over the Legal Framework Order, criticized the institutionalization of the role of the military in governance, condemned human rights abuses against women, children, religious minorities and journalists, expressed serious concern about the role of Pakistan on nuclear proliferation and called for the immediate release of Javed Hashmi.

The spokesman said the democratic forces in Pakistan hoped that the European Parliament will keep a very close watch on the progress towards democratization in Pakistan in the light of the benchmarks established by it.

BENAZIR: Meanwhile former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto thanked former repporteur of European Parliament, John Cushnahan, for his efforts for democracy and human rights in Pakistan.

John Cushnahan, one of the most senior Irish politicians who spearheaded the struggle to persuade the EU Parliament not to rectify the economic cooperation agreement with Pakistan until democracy had been fully restored.

Earlier, he headed 100-member strong delegation to observe 2002 elections, which observed that the elections held in Pakistan under military overview were "seriously flawed".

In a letter, released by the PPP media cell here the former premier paid tributes to Mr Cushnahan for struggling for the cause of human rights and democratic principles.

She wrote, "the democratic forces in Pakistan feel it disappointed to learn that a democratic crusader who stood up for the disempowered people of Pakistan is no longer an EU rapporteur following the narrow inability of the Foreign Affairs Committee to endorse the report regarding lack of progress in restoration of democracy and human rights violations in Pakistan."

This is a great setback to the cause of democracy, human rights and social progress of our people and people elsewhere inspired by your courage and determination she remarked. The principled position that you took has endeared you to all the democracy loving people in Pakistan.

"Democratic people feel heartened that even as the Foreign Affairs Committee did not agree to withhold recommendation it nonetheless adopted, on your persuasion, a unanimous resolution strongly condemning what you rightly described in your resignation letter as 'Pakistan's appalling record on human rights and democracy".