By NNN-APP,
Washington : U.S. Congressman Steve Israel Friday joined calls, asking President Pervez Musharraf to accept the mandate of the Pakistani nation for democratic change and step down in the interest of his country.
“The people of Pakistan have spoken clearly and decisively for a transition from a decade of dictatorship to democracy in the February 18 elections. It is time for Musharraf to accept the mandate of the people for democratic change, and step down for the sake of his nation,” he said in a statement.
He said “free from the threat of a president without legitimacy and popular support, the new democratically-elected government of Pakistan can devote its full attention to the economic, energy and food crises facing the nation, and the growing threat of extremism.”
“As a member of the State and Foreign Operations Sub-committee of the House Appropriations Committee, I believe it is critical for Pakistan to turn the page toward democracy, good governance and effective anti-terrorism,” the Democratic lawmaker from New York added.
The immediate step after Musharraf’s departure, he suggested, should be the restoration of the old independent judiciary.
“Without getting the judges back on the Supreme Court and high court benches, Pakistan cannot move forward and make the progress it needs.”