MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

9.7.2007

to wind up the debate on statements by the Council and Commission
pursuant to Rule 103(2) of the Rules of Procedure
by Cristiana Muscardini, Michał Tomasz Kamiński, Adam Bielan, Hanna Foltyn-Kubicka, Inese Vaidere and Ryszard Czarnecki
on behalf of the UEN Group
on Pakistan

B6‑0286/2007

European Parliament resolution on Pakistan

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to the Cooperation Agreement between the European Community and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on Partnership and Development, the conclusion of which was approved by Parliament on 22 April 2004,

-  having regard to the recent declarations by members of the US delegation led by Mr Negroponte, in Islamabad,

-  having regard to previous resolutions on human rights and democracy in Pakistan, in particular those of 10 February 2004 and 22 April 2004,

-  having regard to Rule 103 of its Rules of Procedure

A.  whereas at least 24 people have died and many other have been injured following the tension between pro-Taliban mosque students and the President, General Pervez Musharraf, around the Lal Masjid or Red Mosque in Islamabad since Tuesday,

B.  whereas the Red Mosque has been the hub of a vigorous campaign to impose Sharia, a form of Islamic law in Pakistan,

C.  whereas this incident has sparked violence throughout Pakistan, thus increasing the number of casualties,

D.  whereas internal security concerns rose after the suicide bombing on 28 April, which killed 30 and wounded the Interior Minister, Sherpao at the Peshawar political rally,

E.  whereas another assassination attempt took place on the life of President Musharraf over the weekend, which highlights the political volatility of the situation,

F.  whereas President Musharraf faced a political crisis after suspending Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhary on 12 March, sparking a wave of resignations among the judiciary and protests over the independence of the judiciary;

G.  whereas the European Parliament has strongly and consistently supported human rights clauses in trade and cooperation agreements,

H.  whereas the European Union provides significant funding to Pakistan for poverty alleviation and social-sector development,

I.  whereas the latest clashes in and around the Red Mosque, which have resulted in a high death toll, are a clear demonstration of the power of the radical Islamist movement,

• 1.Urges the EU to take a firm stance on upholding the democracy and human rights clause in its agreements with Pakistan, seeking intense political dialogue on human rights; welcomes the fact that the EU will monitor the general elections in Pakistan and that the EP will participate in the observer mission;
• 2.Stresses that any move to disrupt the electoral process would be unacceptable and that a constitutional path must be found;
• 3.Calls, in particular, for consideration of the possibility of setting up a specific human rights dialogue with Pakistan and the establishment of specific human rights subcommittees dealing with both countries, as in the case of certain other countries;
• 4.Calls on the international community to urge President Musharraf to fulfil his commitments, in particular to enforce genuine checks on the madrasas under the control of violent sectarian groups and to allow full and fair national elections in 2007;
• 5.Calls on the government to give increased support to and reform the public school system, including the removing of the sectarian and pro-jihad elements;
• 6.Urges Pakistan to play a greater role in easing political relations with India, in particular regarding the situation in Kashmir;
• 7.Regrets that the military continues to exert a strong influence within politics and the government in Pakistan;
• 8.Draws attention to the serious concern felt by the international community about Pakistan's role in the proliferation of nuclear weapons;
• 9.Notes that Pakistan has made a number of moves towards addressing some of the international community's concerns; stresses, however, that key concerns related to democracy, human rights, the position of women, children and minorities, the right of free expression, the nuclear proliferation issue and the role of the military in the controversy and in Pakistan's political life in general, as well as the permissive attitude towards extremists, must not be overlooked;
• 10.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments of the Member States and the government of Pakistan.