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U.S. asks Musharraf to lift Emergency

WASHINGTON: Persisting with its tough line, the United States has asked Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf to end the Emergency rule “as soon as possible” to allow free and fair elections after the General refused to set a timeframe for lifting the curbs.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice expressed concern that Gen. Musharraf had not set a time limit for restoring citizens’ rights, as the General, who announced on Sunday that elections would be held by January 9, indicated that the polls may be held under Emergency rule.

“It’s not a perfect situation and nobody would suggest this it is,” Ms. Rice said while terming as a positive sign that Gen. Musharraf now has set a time-frame for parliamentary elections.

“Obviously, we are also encouraging that the state of Emergency has got to be lifted, and lifted as soon as possible,” she said in an interview to the ABC’s This Week programme. “..This is a country that’s going through extraordinarily difficult circumstances. But it is an ally, it is a friend,” she said adding the U.S. role should be to persuade Pakistan to return to democracy. — PTI

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