By IANS
Islamabad : British High Commissioner Robert Brinkley Wednesday met former prime minister Benazir Bhutto at her home in Karachi to discuss the current political situation in the country.
“During their conversation at Bilawal House, Brinkley reiterated the UK’s position, calling on General (Pervez) Musharraf to restore constitutional order as soon as possible,” a statement issued by the British High Commission said.
The envoy also asked Musharraf to release all political prisoners and lift curbs on the media, and to step down as chief of army staff.
The government Tuesday freed more than 3,500 political prisoners and almost the same number of political activists were arrested Wednesday in new raids.
Most of the arrested workers belong to Pakistan Muslim League of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who lives in exile in Saudi Arabia.
Brinkley also told Bhutto that Britain strongly supports free and fair elections.
He said that there must be a level playing field for all political parties to take part in the elections, but that this was not possible under the current conditions, with political activists detained and restrictions on the media in force.
But the mainstream political parties have rejected the caretaker set-up, saying it was extension of the previous ruling party, the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid-e-Azam (PML-Q).
Caretaker Prime Minister Muhammadmian Soomro and many of the ministers in the present set-up were elected to the upper house of parliament on PML-Q tickets.
The leading parties are also considering boycotting the Jan 8 elections. Bhutto said Wednesday that her party would take a decision in a day or two on whether to take part in the coming elections.
The envoy further urged restraint on all sides, and called on all political parties to work towards reconciliation in the best interests of Pakistan.
As part of the British High Commission’s engagement with all political parties, British mission political counsellor Tom Drew met Muttahida-Majlis-e-Amal general secretary Fazl-ur-Rehman earlier Wednesday.
The meetings of British emissaries with the Pakistan leadership come a day after US President George W. Bush said that it will be hard for him to argue that Pakistani President Musharraf is still trying to advance democracy if he doesn’t lift emergency rule before the elections.
Bush said the embattled Pakistani leader has been a loyal US ally in fighting terrorists has vowed to step down as head of the military and has promised to hold parliamentary elections.