By DPA
Islamabad : Pakistan Monday rejected as “regrettable” a European Parliament resolution calling upon President Pervez Musharraf to lift emergency rule in the country.
“It ignores the ground realities and fails to show understanding of the extraordinary situation that necessitated emergency for maintaining political stability and preserving the on-going political process in the country,” a statement from the Pakistani foreign ministry said.
Criticising the proclamation of the state of emergency, the European Parliament Saturday called on Musharraf to “put an end to martial law” and stop “grave human rights abuses and mass arrests of innocent citizens and prominent leaders.”
It also urged the military ruler to respect “the verdict of the Supreme Court – once it is reinstated – on the constitutionality of his election as President”.
He should also resign as army chief as he has previously pledged to do, if cleared to serve a further five-year term, the European Parliament said.