---

Pakistan and Kenya

My Lords, I associate myself with the Minister’s remarks about Benazir Bhutto, who was a very good friend of mine. Whatever criticisms may be made of her, she was thoroughly committed to the development of democracy in Pakistan. I respectfully suggest that there may have been two omissions in the Statement. First, should it not have utterly condemned General Musharraf’s removal of the chief justice? Since President Musharraf’s action had no purpose other than to safeguard his own position as president, does it not cast in doubt his commitment to the rule of law and democracy? Secondly, is it not time that the restrictions on Mr Nawaz Sharif’s standing for election were also lifted? The Minister said that the US and the UK did not favour Benazir Bhutto over other candidates but is it not important that in the forthcoming elections the dice are not seen to be loaded against the more Islamically-oriented parties?