LONDON, Jan 28 (KUNA) — British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Pakistans President Pervez Musharraf were discussing here Monday Pakistan’s upcoming elections, British officials said.
The Prime Minister is likely to urge Musharraf to take steps to ensure the elections are free and fair. The pair are also set to discuss the fight against terrorism and the safety of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons.
Further protests about Musharraf’s human rights record are expected outside Downing Street. Brown would offer more help and equipment to fight terrorism and extremism, the officials added. He will also be pressing for much more spending on state schools in Pakistan to provide a real alternative to madrassa schools, accused of teaching radicalism and violence, they went on.
Musharraf has been touring Europe trying to reassure governments that next month’s national elections will be a positive turning point for Pakistan.Parliamentary polls planned for January were postponed until 18 February after the opposition leader Benazir Bhutto was assassinated at a campaign rally.
The President’s three-day visit to the UK drew demonstrations outside Downing Street last weekend and more are expected. Human rights campaigners and lawyers have been protesting against his dismissal and detention of judges he has come into conflict with.
Many are concerned he will try to delay or rig the poll.
The British officials are said to be pleased with Musharraf’s detailed commitments when answering questions about the delayed elections. He has promised they would be “free, fair, transparent and peaceful.”