Congressional Statements

Pallone: Pakistani Commitment to return to democracy 'not serious'

Press Release
May 30, 2000

Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr., D-NJ, today said that General Pervez Musharraf's statement of support for the May 12th ruling by Pakistan's Supreme Court calling for a return to democracy in three years should not be considered by the U.S. and the international community as an acceptable commitment to restore democratic rule.

The Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision by the 12 judges, upheld the legitimacy of the October 12, 1999, military takeover, but gave Gen. Musharraf three years from that date to complete his self-set agenda - to rescue Pakistan from economic and political implosion - and then 90 days after that to hold elections.

"This action is not to be taken seriously," Pallone said. "It's long been obvious that General Musharraf has the nation's court system in his back pocket.

"Naturally, Gen. Musharraf said he would adhere to the Supreme Court's ruling. The Court essentially legitimized the coup, buying into the General's claim that the military had no choice but to take over, and gave him a very generous time frame within which elections should be held.

"Lest we forget, in January of this year, General Musharraf ordered that all sitting higher court judges - including Supreme Court justices - must sign loyalty oaths to his regime, and to upholding the Provisional Constitutional Order, which places Pakistan's constitution in abeyance. Those justices who refused to swear the oath were forced to quit the bench. This move was condemned at the time by the U.S. State Department."

Pallone also noted that Pakistani courts have upheld previous military coups, which have installed the army for about half of the country's 53-year existence.

The court also gave Musharraf sweeping powers to change Pakistan's constitution. Musharraf is said to favor a constitution that gives the military a role in governing the country.

The latest developments from Islamabad prompted Pallone to reiterate his call for the House of Representatives to take action on legislation condemning last October's coup in Pakistan. In March, Pallone wrote to House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-IL) urging that the Resolution - introduced last October by Rep. Sam Gejdenson (R-CT), senior Democrat on the House International Relations Committee - be given expedited consideration.

"Thus far, Gen. Musharraf has rejected any outside pressure to restore democratic governance," Pallone said. "Now that Pakistan's less than independent judiciary has essentially given the General and his junta a free hand to continue with their current program, with elections not to be held until some time in early 2003, it is even more important for the United States and other nations to make it clear to Islamabad that this is unacceptable."