June 12, 2007
Boucher to Discuss
Political Crisis
With Pakistani Opposition
Islamabad
US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher was due to discuss
Pakistan's current political crisis with liberal opposition parties
after he arrives in the capital Islamabad late Tuesday, party
officials said.
A number of leaders of the parties of opposition leaders and former
prime ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif were invited to a
reception Wednesday in the American embassy in Islamabad, their
spokespersons told DPA.
It was not clear if the US official would also confer separately
with opposition leaders. However, Boucher was due to hold formal
talks Wednesday with President Pervez Musharraf.
Washington is under increasing pressure to withdraw its support for
the military ruler - a key ally in the US-led war on terrorism -
whose decision to suspend Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry in March
sparked countrywide protests by the opposition, lawyers and rights
activists.
The US administration has also expressed concern at government
measures to rein in the media.
The New York Times this week urged Washington to "disentangle
America, quickly, from the general's damaging embrace" and support
democratic forces in the country.
"We will discuss with Boucher the suspension of the chief justice
and the prevalent political crisis in Pakistan," the General
Secretary of Sharif's opposition party, Iqbal Zafar said.
"The issue of the forthcoming elections will also come under
discussion," he added.
A senior leader of Bhutto's Pakistan Peoples Party, Makhdum Amin
Fahim, and party spokesperson Farhatullah Babar are also among those
invited to the embassy.
Musharraf will seek re-election by parliament in October, and a
general election of a new assembly will take place within three
months.
Pakistani media have speculated that Boucher might mediate between
Bhutto's party and Musharraf to ensure the political survival of the
embattled leader, who is facing the biggest test to his authority
since he took power in a military coup in 1999.
The reports were immediately rejected Monday by officials in
Islamabad as well as Washington.
"Look, the Pakistani people are more than capable enough of
resolving any political differences they may have, striking any
political bargains. They don't need our help to do so," State
Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters.
But analysts believe the US administration will maintain close
contacts with opposition parties to ensure its interests in
Pakistan.
"They now see a very strong political movement building against
Musharraf and they would like to ensure that it is not hijacked by
the extremists," political analyst Talat Masood said.
Representatives of the ruling Pakistan Muslim league have also
received invitations to the embassy event.
Leaders of the country's major religious alliance Muttahida
Majlis-e-Amal have not been invited.
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