US Senators express concern over Pak political scenario in letter to Musharraf

Two influential US Senators have expressed their concern over the prevailing political scenario in Pakistan in a letter addressed to President General Pervez Musharraf.

Washington, Oct 4 : Two influential US Senators have expressed their concern over the prevailing political scenario in Pakistan in a letter addressed to President General Pervez Musharraf.

Senator Joseph Biden, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Senator Patrick Leahy, the chairman of the State and Foreign Operations subcommittee and the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, said that they were "concerned that recent decisions about the conduct of elections would discredit the political process and tarnish any results generated under these rules".

In the letter sent on September 28, they expressed that their main concern was that Musharraf would seek re-election from "the lame-duck parliament and assemblies", and not by the newly formed parliament after the forthcoming general elections.

The duo also raised concern over Musharraf contesting the presidential elections in uniform.

Biden and Leahy have also registered their objection to the Pakistan Government's decision to deport former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

The Daily Times quoted Biden and Leahy as objecting to "the failure to create and maintain accurate electoral lists in advance of the upcoming polling, despite considerable allocations of money for this purpose".

Inaccurate lists would disenfranchise 30 million voters, they added.

"We wholeheartedly endorse the vision of Pakistan as a democratic, stable moderate, economically vigorous society - a vision espoused by Pakistani leaders and citizens alike. We believe such a goal can only be attained through a free and fair electoral process, fully supported by the political parties and leaders representing the majority of the Pakistani politicians," they said.

ANI