Kasuri in bid to quell storm over elections
By Our Diplomatic Correspondent

ISLAMABAD—Foreign Minister Khurshid M Kasuri Wednesday said the government was keen to hold early elections as these were in the interest of the country. Talking to Foreign Minister of Britain David Miliband, Foreign Minister of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Commonwealth Secretary General Donald McKinnon who telephoned him today, Kasuri said government’s commitment to holding free and fair elections remained unchanged.
He also explained at length the situation in Pakistan and said the government was very keen to hold early election since it felt that it was in the best interest of Pakistan itself. They exchanged views with the Foreign Minister on his reaction and sought his input on the situation in Pakistan.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has firmly rejected Pakistan’s protest over his statement on the imposition of emergency, insisting that it returns to democratic rules as soon as possible. Ban also said he is in contact with the “leaders in the region” over the situation in Pakistan but has not talked to President Pervez Musharraf directly.
Talking to reporters yesterday, he did not identify the leaders but firmly rejected the verbal protest lodged by Pakistan’s UN ambassador Munir Akram that Ban’s statement asking Islamabad to free all detainees and return to democratic rule constituted interference in the country’s internal affairs. “I stand by my statement,” Ban said, adding that he had expressed his “deep and concern and regret” to Akram over what had happened in Pakistan.
“I also urged, strongly, that the Pakistani government should return to democratic rules and procedures as soon as possible, and also urged the Pakistani leadership to release immediately all the detained political leaders, lawyers, and also the special rapporteur on freedom of religion and faith (Asma Jehangir),” he said. Earlier, a Pakistani United Nations mission spokesman had told reporters that Akarm had lodged a protest on Ban’s statement regarding “internal development” in his country.
But a press release by the Pakistani mission did not make it clear that the protest was verbal and not written. Asked about it, a UN spokesperson said there was no written protest. The spokesman of the mission said that Akram explained to the Secretary General the “grave and multiple challenges” which had compelled the government of Pakistan to declare the emergency.
“However, its scope is restricted. Governance continues as close as possible to the constitution with the cabinet, assemblies, governors and other organs of the state functioning normally. Pakistan remains committed to restore normalcy, rule of law and democracy. United States of America will continue to extend aid and technical support to Pakistan for its speedy progress and prosperity, said Mr. Brian D. Hunt principal officer of the US consulate.
He was addressing the concluding session of 18th All Pakistan Food Science Conference and International Symposium on “Emerging trends in Food Science and Technology” in new senate hall of the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) here Wednesday. He said Pakistan and US are close partners and are enjoying cordial relations for the last many decades.