B4U India: Emergency a serious setback for democracy in Pak, says Anne Patterson

Emergency a serious setback for democracy in Pak, says Anne Patterson
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ANI India on 14 November, 2007 03:56:00
 
The proclamation of an emergency in Pakistan by President General Pervez
Musharraf is a serious setback to democracy in that country, US Ambassador Anne
W Patterson has said.
Pakistans move toward democracy has been seriously set back by the events of
November 3, Patterson said while speaking on the US-Pakistan relationship at
National Defence University here.
She said that Washington has urged the Musharraf Government not to throw away
in weeks what it took years to achieve.
One of the greatest achievements of Musharraf was the flowering of a free and
vibrant media. There is no way to put this genie back in the bottle by cutting
off the media now, she said.
Commenting on the economic growth of Pakistan, Patterson said, that the
countrys seven percent annual economic growth had been one of the greatest
accomplishments of the Musharraf Administration.
But the November 3 imposition of a state of emergency has put this economic
growth of Pakistan and upward mobility at risk, she added.
Our embassy and our consulates have tried to make sure that American business
representatives know that Pakistan is a good place to do business, and I have
always highlighted the enormous economic opportunities which your country
offers, Patterson said.
She said Pakistan-US relations encompassed a broad range of shared interests
that went beyond security and rejected the impression that America was an
undependable ally of Pakistan, the Daily Times reported.
Pakistans fight against terrorism was also the worlds fight against
terrorism, said Patterson, and expressed astonishment at claims that Pakistan
is fighting Americas war.
She said Pakistan must tackle the extremists and militants operating within its
borders to continue its economic progress and protect the right of its people to
choose how they live their lives. (ANI)