Pakistan Views

The visiting US Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Right and Labour, David J Kramer, on Tuesday said that Washington was closely working with Islamabad for making its economic reforms’ process a success to help it fight out poverty and lawlessness. Addressing a press conference here, he said that the US would not meddle in Pakistan’s domestic issue and it were the people of Pakistan who could decide issues like President Musharraf’s impeachment, probe into Benazir’s assassination case by United Nations, and restoration of deposed judges. He said that US accords high priority to its relationship with Pakistan and wants to offer it every possible help for strengthening its all organs of the state including judiciary and press.Kramer said that he had met with a few federal ministers, parliamentarians, lawyers’ representatives and human rights activists during his stay in Islamabad and gave them assurance on behalf of the US government that Washington would continue to support Pakistan to take forward its political and democratic process.He said the US administration would like to see judiciary, press and other institutions working independently to play vibrant role in making a safe and sound Pakistan. He added that the US would continue to work with the new government to strengthen its working relationship to improve bilateral ties in all important areas.He added that it was his first visit to Pakistan after assuming charge of the Assistant Secretary of State and he found its people enthusiastic and hardworking with a clear vision to make this country a vibrant state. He said that Pakistan’s political leadership was also showing great degree of seriousness and wisdom to resolve the problems confronted with Pakistan on domestic and international fronts.He agreed with a questioner that the US was facing a perception problem in Pakistan and the US policy makers believe that its policy of talking to the people would work to dispel this impression.On the issue of missing persons in Pakistan, he said the US strongly advocates protection of human rights by all countries and it strictly adheres to the same policy for Islamabad.