LAHORE, May 16: Britain’s top envoy to Pakistan has stressed the need for respect for an independent judiciary and rule of law in Pakistan and said that President Gen Pervez Musharraf should separate the two offices (of president and Chief of Army Staff) this year as demanded by the Commonwealth.
The British High Commissioner, Mr Robert Brinkley, was responding to journalists' questions at the launch of the ‘mobile plasma pheresis’ project, which was organised by the Muslim Aid NGO at a hotel here on Wednesday.
He said Britain supported restoration of ‘full democracy’ in Pakistan and wanted ‘free and fair elections’, adding that all parties should be provided with level playing fields in the forthcoming general elections.
Mr Brinkley said the issue of President Musharraf's holding two offices had been discussed in the Commonwealth and on its demand he would have to ‘separate them’ this year.
He described as baseless a media report that his government had advised Britons not to travel to Pakistan considering the deteriorating law and order situation here.
He said that the majority of Muslims were moderate and liberal, and only a few elements -- extremists and terrorists -- were responsible for the divide between Muslims and people of other faiths.
He said that misguided criminals had committed the terrorist act in the UK and Muslims should not be blamed for that.
He said that Britain was looking forward to developing a long-term partnership with Pakistan.
During the devastating earthquake in Pakistan in 2005 the British government had donated 58 million pounds sterling for rehabilitation. His government had further pledged £70 million for the cause, he informed.
Mr Brinkley said that Prime Minister Tony Blair had signed a 10-year development agreement with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz during his last visit that demonstrated his government’s commitment for the people of Pakistan.
He said the British government had already doubled Pakistan's development aid from £236 million to £480 million for the next three years.
