Proposed by the Bureau of Liberal International
A. Noting that the Government of Pakistan announced on September 18, 2007 that if General Musharraf were re-elected as President, he would lay down his position as leader of the Pakistan Army by November 15, 2007;
B. Noting that General Musharraf was re-elected as President of Pakistan on October 6, 2007,
C. Noting that General Musharraf and Ms. Benzahir Butto, former Prime Minister of Pakistan and 1989 Liberal International Prize for Freedom Laureate, had reached consensus on her safe return to Pakistan and unobstructed participation in the 15 January 2008 elections as leader of Pakistan’s People’s Party,
D. Noting that Ms. Bhutto returned to Pakistan on October 18, 2007 after more than eight years in exile and was almost directly the target of a suicide bombing by extremists in the city of Karachi that left 140 people dead and injured over 500,
E. Noting that General Musharraf, in his role as Chief of the Army, on November 3, 2007 declared a state of emergency, suspended the Constitution, dismissed Pakistan’s Chief Justice Chaudhry, and since has been jailing thousands of members of the political opposition, the media, and the judicial system of Pakistan until today,
F. Noting that on November 15, 2007, the Government of Pakistan announced that parliamentary elections would be held before January 9, 2008, and that President Musharraf would give up his position as Chief of the Army prior to being sworn in as President.
G. Noting that on November 15, 2007, General Musharraf named his close ally Mian Soomro as interim prime minister, thereby not creating a neutral caretaker government en route to the January 9, 2008 elections as is usual in Pakistan;
1. Condemns General Musharraf’s decision to declare a state of emergency, to nullify the Constitution, to dismiss the Supreme Court, and arrest thousands of members of the political opposition, the media, and the judicial system;
2. Calls on General Musharraf to immediately rescind the state of emergency, restore the Constitution, reinstate respect for the rule of law and release political prisoners, allow for freedomof press, reinstate all members of the Supreme Court that he dismissed, and install a neutral interim government;
3. Calls on General Musharraf to allow free and fair parliamentary elections on January 9, 2008, establish an independent body to guarantee free and fair elections, and allow for completely independent monitoring of these elections;
4. Calls on the Government of Pakistan to fully investigate the attempted assassination of former Prime Minister Bhutto and ensure her safety so as to give her the freedom to fully campaign in elections;
