BRUSSELS, Nov 5: The European Union governments on Monday came under strong pressure from human rights organisations, members of the European Parliament and journalist associations to stop support for President Gen Pervez Musharraf following the imposition of emergency.

“Of course it is not business as usual” in EU relations with Pakistan, senior European Commission official Helen Campbell told a public hearing on Pakistan at the European Parliament’s sub-committee on human rights.

EU policymakers are reflecting on how best to react to the measures which have been condemned by the bloc’s foreign policy chief Javier Solana and in a joint statement issued by EU envoys in Islamabad.

No immediate aid cut-off is planned given that most of the EU’s 50 million euro aid programme in Pakistan focuses on health, education and projects for promoting women’s status. Many governments believe suspending aid would penalise the people of Pakistan, not the government. Most of this money is channelled to Pakistan through non-governmental organizations.

But budgetary assistance to the Pakistani government — a small portion of the aid programme — is expected to be reviewed. This is also likely to include EU trade with Pakistan, especially tariff preferences given to the country’s textile exports under the bloc’s generalised system of preferences.

While policy measures may take time to be implemented, the EU has certainly made no secret of its concern and dismay at Musharraf’s action.

“I believe that any deviation from the general democratic process cannot be a solution,” Mr Solana warned in a statement, adding: “Abandoning the path to democracy is not the answer.”

EU envoys have repeated that free and fair elections must be held on schedule and said there must be a restoration of civilian rule, respect for the independence of the judiciary and freedom of the media.

President Musharraf must pursue political reconciliation in the national interest, restore the constitutional order and release all political detainees as soon as possible, the envoys insisted.

While recognising that Pakistan faces threats to its peace and security, the envoys said that stability and development could only be achieved with democracy and the rule of law.

With the arrest and detention of judges, lawyers and human rights activists, the Pakistani president had “eviscerated the very people he needs to work with” to bring democracy to Pakistan, Brad Adams, Asia Director for Human Rights Watch, told a public hearing on Pakistan organised by the European Parliament’s sub-committee on human rights.

Mr Adams said Pakistan’s independent media and strong judiciary were the “bright spots” on the country’s landscape. He complimented Pakistan’s “incredibly brave human rights defenders”, including Asma Jehangir and I.A. Rehman.“The EU should review every single programme with Pakistan,” said Mr Adams, saying the bloc must send a message that it was not business as usual with the government.

European parliamentarians voiced scepticism at Gen Musharraf’s assertion that elections would still be held and called for the immediate lifting of the state of emergency.

The Brussels-based International Federation of Journalists warned that “the elimination of free expression and imposition of censorship will increase levels of fear, ignorance and rumour.

Pakistan will only find peace and stability through respect for the rule of law and the people’s right to know. By putting troops in the newsrooms, the government seems to have abandoned both,” said Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary.