November 10, 2007	Saturday	Shawwal 28, 1428

WASHINGTON, Nov 9: Two separate resolutions have been moved in the US Congress, seeking to end the state of emergency in Pakistan. The resolution moved in the House of Representatives is particularly significant because the mover, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, is the co-chair of the Congressional Pakistan Caucus. She is known on Capitol Hill for strongly advocating Pakistan’s causes, even on issues that are considered controversial by other lawmakers.

In the Senate, two senior Democrats, Senator Joe Biden and Senator John Kerry, moved the resolution which seeks to suspend the sale of certain US military equipment to Pakistan, including 36 F-16 jet fighters, if President Pervez Musharraf does not revoke emergency rule.

The House resolution calls for the immediate restoration of Pakistan’s independent judiciary, including the reinstatement of Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, the end of the practice of arbitrary arrest and detention, and allowing suspects customary access to lawyers. It urges Gen Musharraf to lift up restrictions on the nation’s media and news outlets.

The Senate resolution urges Gen Musharraf to revoke the state of emergency, restore the Constitution, relinquish his position as Chief of the Army, and allow for free and fair elections to be held in accordance with the announced timeframe. The resolution also calls for a careful review of US military assistance to Pakistan.

The United States has agreed to sell Pakistan up to 36 new F-16 fighter jets together with refurbished F-16s. Lockheed Martin Corp, the Pentagon’s No. 1 contractor, won a $144 million contract last year for materials needed to build the F-16s.

Meanwhile, a US law firm – Cassidy & Associates – has cancelled a recently signed $1.2 million a year contract to lobby for Pakistan, saying that “recent developments in Pakistan have made it difficult to effectively fulfil our mission.”

Such developments reflect a growing US pressure on the Musharraf government to bring Pakistan back on the road to democracy.

“I am very concerned for the safety of the people of Pakistan, Supreme Court officials, and members of the judicial courts including Pakistani lawyers, who continue to clash with government officials in ongoing protests in the region,” said Congresswoman Jackson Lee.

The House resolution also urges the Bush Administration to make aid to Pakistan conditional on the protection of human and constitutional rights during this state of emergency, she said.

“As co-chair of the Congressional Pakistan Caucus, I recognise the nation of Pakistan as a great ally against the war on terror. However, the recent political upheaval combined with the constraints of the state of emergency has greatly hampered its effectiveness in fighting against the real enemy of Pakistan, terrorism,” Congresswoman Jackson Lee said.

“The United States needs to get involved with a great sense of urgency and immediately dispatch a special envoy for the sake of the Pakistani people and the global community,” she concluded.