Pakistani opposition's complaints to the US

Daily Times, January 22, 2006
Politicians complain about army, Punjab to Nicholas Burns
By Shahzad Raza

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani politicians on Saturday criticised the armed forces, the Punjab province and intelligence agencies in a meeting with Nicholas Burns, the US deputy secretary of state for political affairs. Burns said he supported democracy in Pakistan but refused to comment on the country’s internal matters.

The visiting US official held a meeting with the leaders of opposition and ruling parties. The politicians raised internal matters like unequal distribution of resources and lack of consensus on Kalabagh Dam. “Meeting Pakistani politicians is a learning experience for me. We (the US government) want to play a role in the promotion of democracy in Asia. And Pakistan is fundamentally important to us,” sources privy to meeting quoted Burns as saying.

Burns described his meeting with President Pervez Musharraf as comprehensive. He said his government was looking at political stability in Pakistan, which could not be achieved without strong democracy. He called Pervez Musharraf a friend of the United States.

MNA Fauzia Wahab of the Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians questioned how the US could promote democracy in Pakistan when it supported a military dictator. She said political parties had been marginalised by the military regime. She told the US official that former prime minister Benazir Bhutto was being threatened with court cases if she returned to Pakistan.

Abdul Hayee Baloch, a Baloch nationalist, briefed Burns about the Balochistan situation. He claimed the Balochistan had suffered a lot from “military dictators”.

Nasreen Jaleel, a leader of the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM), complained that Sindh was not given its due share by the federal government. Sources said the MQM leader criticised President Musharraf for announcing Kalabagh Dam and launching an operation in Balochistan.

Sources said Burns refused to comment on Pakistan’s internal issues. He said provincial autonomy and the distribution of resources were purely internal issues.

Human rights activist Asma Jehangir said that Musharraf’s policies were “damaging the federation of Pakistan”. “Elections are held in ISI offices rather than in towns,” sources quoted her as telling the US official.

MNA Sheikh Waqas Ahmed, who belonged to the ruling PML, claimed intelligence agencies and military officials were patronising banned religious outfits.