January
28, 2008
Brown Holds Musharraf to Account for Ensuring Democracy By Dipankar De Sarkar
London
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown Monday told Pakistan President
Pervez Musharraf in clear terms to ensure that planned general
elections in his country next month are free and fair as
pro-democracy protesters criticized the government for according
Musharraf a red carpet welcome.
"Credible elections are essential," Brown told Musharraf at a joint
press conference, where the visiting Pakistani leader repeatedly
thanked his host for pledging financial assistance to Pakistan.
"The priority now for the international community and the government
of Pakistan must be to ensure that the democratic process remains on
track," Brown said.
Musharraf, who is on a charm offensive of Europe, met with Brown as
more than 1,000 pro-democracy protesters held a noisy demonstration
nearby, criticizing Brown for playing hosts to a man they hold
responsible for sacking a democratic government through a military
coup and clinging to power.
"We have never seen a demonstration like this in London for a
Pakistani leader. People here are angry," said Lord Ahmed, a member
of the ruling Labor party and Britain's upper house of parliament.
"This man is being given a red carpet treatment by this government.
He is a retired general - he needs to go," he added.
Lord Ahmed, a leading Muslim member of Labor, said he did not expect
the elections to be free and fair.
Musharraf said the two leaders had an "excellent interaction" and
thanked Brown for "his desire to enhance assistance to Pakistan,
especially in the socio-economic sector and within that specially
education. We are grateful for that.
"I did inform the prime minister our strong desire to ensure that
the elections will be free, fair and transparent," Musharraf said,
adding that they were on track for Feb 18 as scheduled.
Brown and Musharraf also discussed the problem of terrorism in
detail, with the Pakistani president declaring, "We are succeeding
against the Al Qaeda."
Musharraf also said there had been a 42 percent decline in the
movement of terrorists from Pakistan to Afghanistan, according to
NATO forces in Afghanistan.
This, he said, was the result of Pakistani authorities sealing the
border with Afghanistan, erecting 1,000 border posts and imposing a
curfew along a three-km-belt.
Brown said a team of British experts would visit Pakistan soon to
help with counter-terrorism efforts.
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