"We believe in democracy and human rights and civil liberties," said Pakistani President Parvez Musharraf while confronting to world and Pakistani media in Brussels, the capital of Belgium on Monday assuring the delegates and media persons to hold free, fair and transparent election.
“You have taken centuries to reach where you have come. Allow us some time for going for the value that you have reached for yourself," added Musharraf in a press conference on the first day of their eight-day European tour. He was trying to convince the European top authorities and world media in a 70-minute question and answer session with international reporters, think-tanks and Belgian business leaders.
He answered over several topics including upcoming elections, restricting media freedom, current internal environment, probing himself in Benazir Bhutto assassination and his failure to root out terrorism activity in the country.
In the responding of upcoming election that has been postponed for one month, Pervez Musharraf said, “We are determined to hold free, fair and transparent elections ... There is no possibility of it being rigged." he informed. “Pakistan faced increased levels of terrorism.” and “The conformist in Afghanistan has affected the neighbourhood and those same people were spreading obscurantism in both countries.” explained Musharraf.
Curbing his ascending tainted image in the world in the case of Bhutto’s assassination Musharraf said, “Pakistan's security forces have arrested a 15-year-old youth last week in connection with the killing of Ms Bhutto and another 24-year-old man was under arrest in the probe of his handler,”.
On the other hand, PPP leaders are claiming that ‘she was shot dead under any conspiracy that might have involved elements close to the authorities.’
“Neither the press nor NATO or EU policy makers have any illusion about the complex realities in Pakistan.” “Western governments must understand Pakistan’s difficult political environment and stop their ‘obsession’ with democracy and human rights in the country.” he said in the effort of cleaning the country’s internal situation.
Projecting the purpose of his European tour, Musharraf said, “I want to remove ‘misunderstandings’ and ‘misperceptions’ about the situation in Pakistan before the western countries, those have ‘obsessed’ these image of Pakistan.
However, he also added that the citizen of the country were ‘despondent and demoralised’ by the rising extremist and where politics was snowed under feudal and tribals.
In the answer of the nuclear weapons, Musharraf informed, “Pakistan’s nuclear assets are in safe military custody and no one will be to enter its territory in pursuit of terrorists.”
Explaining over ‘to ban the private channel’ he replied, “There are no limits on the freedom of the press,” as it is known that Pakistan has just lifted the restriction over private channels and allow them to cover the general election that could be crucial sign of restoring democracy in the country.
In response of pointing out the role of ISI in the country, Musharraf said, ““The ISI is doing exactly what the government wants it to,”
In his eight days European tour, he met the European Union’s foreign policy chief Javier Solana as well as Belgium’s caretaker Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt and NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer. There he also addressed a joint meeting of the European Parliament’s foreign affairs committee and the assembly’s South Asia delegation, whereas a brief meeting with EU external relations commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner is scheduled in Paris on Tuesday.
According to his planed schedule, he will later meet French President Nicolas Sarkozy and UK newly elected Prime Minister Gordon Brown. He will also attend the World Economic Forum in Davos.
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