13 February 2005	Sunday	03 Muharram 1426

ISLAMABAD, Feb 12: The United States has double standards when it comes to voicing its support for democracy, Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) Central Information Secretary Akbar S. Babar said on Saturday.

He was sharing these views in a meeting with the delegation of Information Republic Institute (IRI).

The delegation was being headed by Director Middle East and North Africa and is in Pakistan to explore opportunities for strengthening of democratic process.

Mr Babar said undemocratic and autocratic regimes were supporting the US agenda. And, by supporting undemocratic forces, the US was losing credibility of its stated policy of supporting democracy in Muslim states, he added.

The PTI information secretary said political map of the country would soon be divided along ideological lines with some political parties aligned with the establishment under the cover of 'national reconciliation' against those demanding democracy and restoration of Pakistan's sovereignty.

The establishment, with the backing of powerful western states, continued to undermine growth of political parties in Pakistan by using coercive methods of the state machinery, Mr Babar said while dilating upon the role of parties in any real democratic process.

The delegation, responded by saying that their visit to Pakistan was exploratory in nature and they supported the democratic process by strengthening political parties in developing countries irrespective of their ideological biases.