ISLAMABAD, July 22: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has welcomed a recent European Parliament resolution calling for free, fair and democratic elections in Pakistan and warning against imposition of emergency or adoption of any other measures to stifle dissent.

In a statement on Sunday, a spokesperson said the PPP had all along maintained that the holding of free and fair elections was the only way out of the present political crisis.

“The military and the secret services exert undue influence in politics, government and the economy of Pakistan, which is contrary to the principles of the roadmap for restoration of democracy envisaging that power would be transferred from the military to a civilian administration,” the statement quoted the resolution as saying.

The PPP said the role of secret agencies was also exposed in the judicial crisis and it was time that the agencies were brought under the ambit of law and parliamentary scrutiny.

It said the PPP welcomed the fact that the EU would monitor the parliamentary elections in Pakistan and had expressed concern over the lack of legitimacy of the future president if elected by the outgoing assembly.