PAL-C and Pakistan Caucus Co-Chair Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee Demand Immediate End to State of Emergency in Pakistan

Washington D.C., November 6, 2007 - The Pakistani American Leadership Center (PAL-C) in a joint press conference with the co-chair of the Congressional Pakistan Caucus Representative Sheila Jackson Lee called for an immediate end to the state of emergency in Pakistan, Musharraf to adhere to his commitment to step down as Chief of the Pakistani Army, and for elections to held in mid January as scheduled.

Additionally, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, while calling for a return to democracy, urged that there should be no immediate cutoff in US funding programs and that a diplomatic initiative should be undertaken to bring the situation back to normal. While Congress should review the assistance being given to Pakistan, she suggested, nothing should be done which could hurt the people of Pakistan.

“The first step I propose is that the US government should engage in immediate diplomacy — that is why I am calling for an envoy and a diplomatic team to be dispatched immediately for negotiations on restoration of democracy,” she said.

Lee stressed that President Musharraf has been a strong ally in the war on terror and funding for the Pakistan Army, which has heroically fought terrorists on the Afghan border, should continue.

“I don’t want the people of Pakistan hurt. I’ve been trying to get more social aid to Pakistani people, but I believe the aid that is now being given as long as Pakistan remains in turmoil, that aid will be considered in question; and so it is important for this matter to be resolved quickly so that aid continues to flow and assist Pakistan in the war on terror,” she said.

The congresswoman from Texas, considered a staunch friend of Pakistan, said, “I call on Congress to come out in a unified voice of support of the Pakistani people’s continued movement towards democracy by supporting Pakistan’s elections, despite the state of emergency declared by President Musharraf. I encourage the great people of Pakistan not to allow violence, intimidation or fear to hinder the democratic process from going forward.”

To read PAL-C’s statement please click here.

The Pakistani American Leadership Center (PAL-C) is a professional Pakistani-American advocacy organization with an office located on Capitol Hill. It launched the Congressional Pakistan Caucus in May 2004 and works to raise awareness about Pakistani-American interests in Washington policy circles. Our activities include facilitating the Congressional Pakistan Caucus, liaising Pakistani officials and the community with Members of Congress, and mobilizing all Pakistani-Americans at the grassroots level. If you wish to learn more about PAL-C, please visit our website www.pal-c.org or email us at info@pal-c.org.

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