(Washington, DC) - Rep. Gary L. Ackerman (D-Queens/L.I.), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia, today urged Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to prevent the Pakistani government from manipulating the country’s upcoming February 18th elections. In a letter with other House Members, Ackerman expressed concern over the poor state of civil liberties in Pakistan, the need to restore the credibility of the Pakistani Election Commission and the necessity of lifting the current restrictions on the media.

“It is absolutely crucial that President Musharaff allow international monitors to freely monitor this upcoming election. With the dubious state of the Pakistani justice system, outside observers are the only way to assure the Pakistani people that the election results will be fair and reflective of the will of the people,” commented Ackerman.  “If Pakistan's leaders fail to ensure the democratic legitimacy of this critical election, the next Pakistani government, like the current one, will hold power, but without a popular mandate. In the end, this outcome would deprive the people of Pakistan of the effective governance they deserve and that is so critical to our own national security interests.”

On November 3, 2007, President Pervez Musharraf suspended the Pakistani constitution and assumed emergency powers under a Provisional Constitutional Order.  That order suspended a number of fundamental rights listed in the Pakistani constitution including freedom from unlawful arrest and detention, and the freedoms of movement, assembly, association and speech. At that time, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and seven of his colleagues, as well as multiple other High Court judges, were suspended when they refused to take a new oath of office and were subsequently replaced with justices appointed by President Musharraf. 

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