April 28, 2007	Saturday	Rabi-us-Sani 10, 1428

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WASHINGTON, April 27: A senior US lawmaker Senator Tom Harkin has said that in the current judicial crisis in Pakistan, the United States ought to be on the side of the lawyers and the Supreme Court.

“Had we provided the kind of support and encouragement to the democratic forces in Pakistan that they deserve, we would not be having the problems we are having now,” said Mr Harkin.

Mr Harkin, a Democratic senator, told a meeting on Capitol Hill on Thursday night that his position on this issue should not be seen as interference.

“Pakistan was created for democracy. This is the vision its founder Mohammed Ali Jinnah had for the country,” he said, adding: “I watch what’s happening in Pakistan where an independent branch of the government stood up to the president … and ought to be allowed to stand up to anybody.”

He said that in this dispute “we ought to be on the side of the lawyers and the Supreme Court.” Mr Harkin pointed out that the US “did not treat Pakistan as a true friend and ally” when it decided not to support the country’s democratic forces. “It is time for us to reassess our ties to this great ally.”

Pakistan, he said, was one of America’s closest friend and ally, “cold war or hot war, in every war they stood by us. If it were not for Pakistan, I dare say the cold war would not have been won.”