U.S. Accepts Musharraf Decision

[Rose Siding]

WASHINGTON -- The State Department said Thursday it expects continued progress in Pakistan toward democratic rule, showing no concern about moves to allow President Pervez Musharraf to remain on as army chief.

The Bush administration had welcomed a pledge by Musharraf in December 2003 to retire from the Army by the end of this year. Such a step would have projected a shift toward civilian supremacy.

Asked directly whether the administration believes that Musharraf should quit his Army post, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said, "Our view is that Pakistan needs to continue to make progress toward democracy. Whether he takes the specific step is something that's going to have to be decided in Pakistan."
.....
The administration considers Musharraf one of its most important allies in the fight against terrorism and admires his leadership in guiding his country away from Islamic fundamentalism.

Boucher indicated that the administration believes Pakistan can restore democratic governance.

"We are urging Pakistan to continue to make progress on its transition to a full and sustainable democracy, with free and fair multiparty parliamentary elections as scheduled in 2007," Boucher said.

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-us-pakistan,0,6580540.story?coll=sns-ap-nationworld-headlines

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

1. So some dictatorships are OK?

[Eye and Monkey]

4. BushCo expects Musharraf to return the favor in Nov.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

2. US State Department regarding Human Rights in Pakistan

According to the annual Human Rights reports given to the Congress by Colin Powell each year, here's only a small part of what he reported on conditions in Pakistan as of February, 2004:
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2003/27950.htm

"...RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

Section 1 Respect for the Integrity of the Person, Including Freedom From:

a. Arbitrary or Unlawful Deprivation of Life

Security forces committed extrajudicial killings. The police and security forces were responsible for the deaths of a number of individuals associated with political or terrorist groups during the year; however, exact figures were unknown by year's end.

The extrajudicial killing of criminal suspects, often while in police custody or in staged encounters, occurred. Police officials generally insisted that these deaths occurred during attempts to escape or to resist arrest; however, family members and the press insisted that many of these deaths were staged. Police personnel have been known to kill suspected criminals to prevent them from implicating police in crimes during court proceedings. In August, the Interior Ministry reported that 548 persons were killed in police encounters in 2002, with 114 encounter deaths reported in the first 6 months of the year. For example, in July, Manzar Husain was shot and killed while being transferred to police custody in Punjab. In August, Zafar Iqbal was tortured and killed while in police custody (see Section 1.c.). In September, Samuel Sunil was tortured and killed while in police custody in Qilla Singh Police Station. In September, riots broke out in the district jail in Sanghar after the torture and killing of prisoner Mohammad Akbar. There were no new developments in the encounter deaths from 2001 or 2002. Police also reportedly killed suspected criminals to circumvent or overcome insufficient evidence, to intimidate witnesses, judicial corruption, and, at times, political pressure. Police personnel continued to torture persons in custody throughout the country.

Amnesty International (AI) estimates that at least 26 persons died from police torture during the year (see Section 1.c.).

Security forces continued to use lethal force to disperse demonstrations (see Section 2.b.). On May 11, Rangers shot and killed one protester in Okara. No arrests or investigations have been made in this case. The demonstrators in Okara were protesting the Rangers' demand that they shift from a sharecropping to a leasehold tenancy. At year's end, the Rangers paid the family compensation for the 2002 killing of the protester in Okara. The Lahore High Court was petitioned; however the case still was pending at year's end. The Government set up roadblocks and checkpoints around the area and restrictions on water were enforced (see Section 2.d.). Police officers occasionally were transferred or briefly suspended for involvement in extrajudicial killings; however, in general police continued to commit such killings with impunity...."

[varun]

3. What about the people of Pakistan?

What about democracy?

Is this the kind of "De-MOCK-racy" we're gonna see in Iraq and Afghanistan?

[bloodyjack]

5. If Musharraf were to relinquish his position as army chief

he would simply be deposed and either exiled or executed by one of his generals.

This is why he will not relinquish his position as army chief. Understandable I guess.