Pakistani Groups in US criticize Musharraf
Special
SAT Report
WASHINGTON:
Four major Pakistani American groups have criticized General Pervez
Musharraf's arbitrary amendments to the constitution through the
Legal Framework Order.
In
a joint statement they rejected his claim to have a right to amend
the constitution and urged that the ultimate decision to accept
or reject these amendments should rest with the incoming National
Assembly. The four groups also called for complete transparency
in the general elections scheduled for October 10.
The
four Pakistani American groups are: Association of Pakistani Physicians
of North America (APPNA), Council of Pakistan American Affairs
(COPAA), Pakistan American Congress (PAC), and Pakistan American
Democratic Forum (PADF).
The
APPNA is a professional association of Pakistani physicians in
the United States with around 2,000 members. The COPPA is a group
specializing in policy and public opinion related matters. The
PAC is an umbrella organization of more than two dozen Pakistani
American organizations and spearheads Pakistani-American community’s
lobbying efforts. The PADF is the largest grassroots Pakistani
American organization with a substantial number of Pakistani social
scientists who are members of its think tank.
The
joint statement reads: "Though one can agree with many elements
of the purported amendments to the Constitution, the method chosen
by General Musharraf to amend the constitution does not conform
to the procedures stipulated in the 1973 Constitution, therefore,
these amendments are devoid of any legitimacy.
"We
demand that these purported amendments should be submitted to
the incoming parliament for review. The parliament should have
full powers to accept or reject these amendments in part or whole.
Otherwise, Pakistan will be exposed to another prolonged and unnecessary
crisis that would widen the divide between the armed forces and
the civil society.
"We
also demand that the elections should be held in a fair and impartial
manner. National and international poll watchers should be given
ready access to all polling stations. The government must remain
completely neutral, before, during and after the polls. The outcome
of the elections must be respected by the current military government."
Contact addresses:
Association
of Pakistani Physicians of North America (APPNA)
Ph: 504-467-0421 E-Mail: docsuleman@aol.com
Council
on Pakistani American Affairs (COPAA)
Ph: 714-536-7666 E-Mail: nali@socal.rr.com
Pakistani
American Congress (PAC)
Ph: 410-247-6886 E-Mail: nacpac46@hotmail.com
Pakistani
American Democratic Forum (PADF)
Ph: 510-252-9858 E-Mail: asaeed@pacbell.net
