Pakistan on British HR watch list

LONDON: Britain for the first time included Pakistan on a list of countries of concern over human rights Tuesday, saying there had been "very little progress" towards pledged improvements.

Pakistan featured on a list of 21 "major countries of concern" like China, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Zimbabwe in the Foreign Office's Human Rights Annual Report 2007.

The report says the list "is not a league table of countries we consider the worst offenders" but adds it "focuses on countries where human rights issues cause us the greatest concern, or where we devote a great deal of attention".

The move to include Pakistan

came after a recommendation from the House of Commons' Foreign Affairs Committee.

During a three-page analysis of Pakistan's human rights record, the FCO says: "The UK is concerned about human rights issues in Pakistan...recent changes in the political landscape and the period surrounding the state of emergency declared by President Pervez Musharraf on 3 November 2007 have brought a number of human rights issues in Pakistan to the fore."

It adds that Pakistan has expressed a desire to improve its human rights record but says there has been "very little progress towards the fulfilment" of pledges on issues including torture and civil and political rights.

FUTURE FLIGHT

Brown congratulates Gilani as PM

ISLAMABAD  ( 2008-03-25 19:44:23 ) : 

The British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has congratulated Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani on assuming the charge of Prime Minister of Pakistan.
In a statement on Tuesday, the British Prime Minister also assured his government full support to Yousaf Raza Gilani.
Gordon Brown expressed the hope that both Britain and Pakistan would work on a jointly.
He said there are problems ahead of new government and the British Government will work in support of democracy in Pakistan.
He said restoration of democracy in Pakistan was the result of February 18th election.

Bush telephones PM Gilani: official

ISLAMABAD  ( 2008-03-25 18:48:32 ) : 

US President George W. Bush telephoned new Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to congratulate him on being sworn in on Tuesday, a government official said.
Gilani, a senior official from Pakistan People's Party, took the oath as prime minister from President Pervez Musharraf at the presidential palace in Islamabad.
"President Bush telephoned Yousuf Raza Gilani and congratulated him on assuming the office of prime minister," an official in the prime minister's secretariat told AFP.
He said further details would be announced later.
The telephone call came as two senior US envoys were in Islamabad for talks with Musharraf, Gilani and former premier Nawaz Sharif focusing on the political situation and Pakistan's role in the US-led "war on terror".

Nawaz says government will review terror policy

ISLAMABAD  ( 2008-03-25 16:21:38 ) : 

New government will review the country's role in the US-led 'war on terror,' former premier Nawaz Sharif said on Tuesday after holding talks with a top American envoy.
Sharif said he wanted peace around the world but did not want Pakistan turned into a "murder-house" to achieve that aim.
"We discussed terrorism, we informed them our point of view is that since 9/11 all decisions were made by one man," Sharif told reporters after meeting visiting US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte in Islamabad.
"Now the situation has changed, a truly representative parliament has come into being.... Every decision will be presented before the parliament, they will review Musharraf's policy in the last six years," he said.
Sharif said that a parliamentary committee would be set up "which will examine this and international concern and then keeping in view national aspirations will give recommendations."
Negroponte and US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher also held talks with Musharraf, although details were not immediately available. They were also set to meet new prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.
"Pervez Musharraf used the "war on terrorism" to perpetuate his rule. No cabinet and no parliament was taken into confidence in any of his decisions. That is why it did not have popular support," Sharif said.
Sharif said that both the US and Pakistan wanted to see the world "free of terrorism" and for innocent people not to suffer.
"We want to see peace in every corner of the world and we want to see peace in Pakistan also. We do not want that in order to give peace to others we turn our own country into a murder house," he said.