New Delhi
25 May 2007
Pakistan Peoples rpt Peoples Party Chairperson Benazir Bhutto and
Pakistani legislator Imran Khan have welcomed Baroness Emma Nicholson's report for
the European Parliament, titled "Kashmir: Present situation and future prospects". In the
vote by the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Thursday, 522 voted in favour, nine
voted against and there were 19 abstentions.
Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne, who was the rapporteur for the report, said after
the vote that she was pleased by the overwhelming backing from the Parliament for the
report as well as the messages of support from Imran Khan and Benazir Bhutto.
Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne is a Liberal Democrat leader from the United
Kingdom.
Pakistan Peoples Party Chairperson Benazir Bhutto welcomed the report presented by
Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne for reaffirming the EU's commitment to the
settlement of disputes by peaceful means and for supporting the role of the composite
peace process in moving towards a durable settlement based on democracy, rule of law
and respect for fundamental rights.
Ms Bhutto appreciated the report for calling for the first elections to be held in Gilgit and
Baltistan and for seeking higher democratic representation in the Northern Areas and for
placing a high value on democracy and human rights for all the people in the region,
particularly for those lacking in fundamental freedoms. She supported the
recommendations of the EU report and welcomed its strong support of regional
integration, trade liberalisation, and economic cooperation, and to strengthen
organisations such as SAARC and SAFTA.
Imran Khan, in turn, said that this report demonstrated the European Parliament's
concern for freedom and democracy for the Kashmiri people in Gilgit and Baltistan and
Pakistan Occupied Kashmir.
Mr Khan said, "Pakistan has a facade of democracy. No country run by a serving general
can truly be called a democracy. With a toothless judiciary hand-picked by General
Musharraf and a subservient electoral commission it is possible to rule indefinitely.
Everything can be manipulated. When the European Union or the Commonwealth back
this military dictator they are helping to destroy a democratic movement".
He added, "I am glad to support the Nicholson report on Kashmir and I look forward to
supporting the EU in implementing its findings to help those people in Gilgit and
Baltistan, [Pakistan Occupied Kashmir] and throughout Pakistan who are deprived of
human rights, justice, the rule of law and democracy".
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