US seeks early roll back of emergency

WASHINGTON—Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte planned to tell Congress on Wednesday that President Pervez Musharraf’s crackdown on political opponents has been a major disappointment to the U.S. and a setback to democracy.
Negroponte’s remarks, delivered before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, were expected to echo the Bush administration’s position in the days since Musharraf declared emergency rule but not include any announcements on changes to U.S. policy.
The administration’s public response to the crisis in Pakistan has been mild and measured, out of concern of going too far in rebuking a close anti-war ally. It stands in sharp contrast to how the administration responded when Myanmar’s military regime cracked down on pro-democracy protesters in September, for instance.
“President Musharraf needs to roll back these emergency decrees and return to constitutional rule as soon as possible. This should happen in the immediate future,” State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters. The White House, meanwhile, defended its handling of the situation. “It’s been about five days,” White House press secretary Dana Perino said. “I grant you that it feels long for all of us who are interested in wanting to get instant reaction. We are trying to get Pakistan back on its path to democracy.”
Congress and the Bush administration are taking a second look at U.S. aid to Pakistan in the wake of Musharraf’s declaration of emergency rule. Musharraf says his actions, which include suspending his country’s constitution and ousting its top judge, were necessary to prevent a takeover by Islamic extremists. During the hearing Wednesday, Negroponte was not expected to announce the results of the administration’s aid review because it was not finished, McCormack said.
The Bush administration is seeking $800 million for Pakistan for the current budget year. Since 2001 the U.S. has provided Pakistan with an estimated $9.6 billion. A senior member of Musharraf’s legal team said Wednesday that the United States is more worried about fighting terrorists than about seeing democracy flourish in his country. Ahmad Raza Khan Qasuri, an advocate at Pakistan’s Supreme Court, also warned the U.S. that “we expect from our friends advice, not dictation. We are a sovereign country.” “Do we ask for a checklist from the United States, ‘Why did you go to Iraq? Why did you go to Afghanistan?’” he said at the Middle East Institute. “The United States, instead of dictation, they should give us friendly advice.”
Musharraf’s actions have drawn widespread criticism in Congress. Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said he advised Musharraf during a phone call Tuesday to allow elections in January as planned and to restore the rule of law.
“It is clear to me from our conversation that President Musharraf understands the consequences for his country and for relations with the United States if he does not return Pakistan to the path of democracy,” Biden said. Rep. Jane Harman, D-Calif., who recently visited the Middle East, said U.S. military and economic aid should be suspended until Musharraf reverses the crackdown. “President Musharraf must be told to revoke martial law, release the thousands of Pakistanis imprisoned in recent days, restore freedom of the press, relinquish his military position and proceed with democratic reforms,” Harman said. Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, planned to offer a resolution condemning Musharraf’s actions.—Agencies