ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, NOV. 29, 2007 (Zenit.org).- The bishops of Pakistan welcomed Pervez Musharraf's move to step down as army chief and serve as a civilian president, and expressed hopes for democratic rule in the country.
Musharraf promised today to end the nation's state of emergency and restore the constitution, which he suspended Nov. 3. He said this hours after he was sworn in as a civilian president, a day after he stepped down as the army chief.
"We welcome the Musharraf's decision to be a civilian president of Pakistan and it is right decision," Archbishop Lawrence Saldanha of Lahore, the president of the Pakistan episcopal conference, told the national media. "We hope that there will be democratic rule in the country."
The bishops met last Friday to discuss the political crisis of the country, including the declared state of emergency, growing militancy in several regions, restrictions imposed on the media and political unrest.
In the statement released after the meeting, the bishops stated: "We recommend the restoration of fundamental rights which would require lifting of the state of emergency and return to constitutional rule without delay."
The statement continued: "People detained after the imposition of emergency, including lawyers, political activists, students and human rights defenders, must be released immediately and unconditionally.
"While we urge all Christians to pray to God almighty to give wisdom to decision makers who are expected to steer the nation out of this multiple crisis, we would respectfully and strongly recommend that […] all curbs on the print and electronic media must end.
"An independent, credible and acceptable election commission must be constituted. There should be a level playing field for all parties to contest the coming general elections."
The bishops emphasized that "to achieve a meaningful, stable and sustainable democracy, the government should make efforts for a national reconciliation among the political parties, and civil society must be allowed to play their role at all levels for building a consensus on the issues of vital importance, including the challenge to build interreligious and intersectarian peace and harmony for a peaceful and prosperous Pakistan."
ZE07112908 - 2007-11-29
Permalink: http://www.zenit.org/article-21149?l=english
Bishops Praise Musharraf's Civilian Role
Express Hopes That Democracy Will Prevail
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