Livid Pakistan slams US over vote
The Subtance
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA
Islamabad, June 28 Pakistan today flayed US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice for her comments that Washington expected the military-backed government to hold next year's general elections in a free and fair manner, saying no advice was required on the country's democratic process.
Reacting to last night's comments by Rice made at a joint press conference with Foreign Minister Khurshid M Kasuri that she had discussed with President Pervez Musharraf and other leaders about the importance of the country holding free and fair polls next year, Pakistan Foreign Office said the subject has not figured in the American official's meeting with the military leader.
"Such a subject was not discussed during Secretary Rice's call on the President on 27 June 2006," Spokesperson of the Pakistan Foreign Office Tasnim Aslam said.
"Pakistan has strong and functioning democratic institutions. There should be no doubt in anyone's mind that the elections will be free and fair. This is the commitment of the leadership and Government of Pakistan," she said in a statement.
"On the democratic processes in Pakistan, we do not require advice from outside. These matters essentially concern the people of Pakistan," she said.
Aslam's comments followed critical remarks by Pakistan's Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Tariq Azeem that Islamabad would not accept any "dictation" from Washington.
Rice has no right "to interfere with Pakistan's political system," Azeem told reporters here today.
http://www.financialexpress.com/latest_full_story.php?content_id=132195
Pakistan today flayed US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice for her comments that Washington expected the military-backed government to hold next year's general elections in a free and fair manner, saying no advice was required on the country's democratic process. Rice has no right "to interfere with Pakistan's political system," [Spokesperson of the Pakistan Foreign Office Tasnim] Azeem told reporters here today.Livid Pakistan slams US over vote
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA
Islamabad, June 28 Pakistan today flayed US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice for her comments that Washington expected the military-backed government to hold next year's general elections in a free and fair manner, saying no advice was required on the country's democratic process.
Reacting to last night's comments by Rice made at a joint press conference with Foreign Minister Khurshid M Kasuri that she had discussed with President Pervez Musharraf and other leaders about the importance of the country holding free and fair polls next year, Pakistan Foreign Office said the subject has not figured in the American official's meeting with the military leader.
"Such a subject was not discussed during Secretary Rice's call on the President on 27 June 2006," Spokesperson of the Pakistan Foreign Office Tasnim Aslam said.
"Pakistan has strong and functioning democratic institutions. There should be no doubt in anyone's mind that the elections will be free and fair. This is the commitment of the leadership and Government of Pakistan," she said in a statement.
"On the democratic processes in Pakistan, we do not require advice from outside. These matters essentially concern the people of Pakistan," she said.
Aslam's comments followed critical remarks by Pakistan's Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Tariq Azeem that Islamabad would not accept any "dictation" from Washington.
Rice has no right "to interfere with Pakistan's political system," Azeem told reporters here today.
http://www.financialexpress.com/latest_full_story.php?content_id=132195
posted by JimG at 12:23 PM
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