(WASHINGTON) – Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-Westchester/Rockland), Chairwoman of the Appropriations State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee, today urged Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to act to ensure adequate monitoring of Pakistan’s February 18th parliamentary elections and to provide a full and frank report of whether the elections meet standards of freedom and fairness.

“While Pakistan is a critical partner in fighting terrorism, it would not be in our national interest to stand silent should its upcoming parliamentary elections fail to conform to international standards of freedom and fairness,” said Lowey. “The decision today of the International Republican Institute to withdraw its monitors from Pakistan due to security concerns; the continuing impediments to free access for election observers, including the ability to conduct exit polls; and the prospect of elections complaints being adjudicated by judges loyal to the current government do not bode well for the international community to be able to certify these elections as being free and fair. The reputation of the United States around the world requires that we stand unflinchingly on the side of democracy. In the case of Pakistan, I am increasingly uncertain that we are able to do this with the current government.”

Chairwoman Lowey has previously expressed concerns about anti-democratic actions in Pakistan directly to President Musharraf and recently withheld $50 million of military assistance until the Secretary of State certifies Pakistan’s cooperation on fighting terrorism and implementing democratic reforms including holding democratic elections.

The full text of Chairwoman Lowey’s letter to Secretary Rice follows:
Dear Madam Secretary:

As you know, I have been increasingly concerned about the stability of the current government in Pakistan. While I agree that Pakistan is a critical partner in the war on terror, missteps by the current government over the past year have severely eroded public confidence and support for the government among the Pakistani people.

I have raised these concerns directly with President Musharraf during my travels to Pakistan and reiterated them through restrictions in the FY2008 appropriations bill. Specifically, section 699F of Division J of P.L. 110-161 withholds $50 million of the military assistance to Pakistan until you report to the Committee on Appropriations on the Government of Pakistan’s cooperation on preventing Al Qaeda and the Taliban from using Pakistani territory as a base for terrorism as well as on democratic reforms including, among other things, holding inclusive democratic elections.

Next week, on February 18th, Pakistan will hold the parliamentary elections that had been postponed after the assassination of Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Benazir Bhutto. It is critical for the future stability of Pakistan and the legitimacy of its government that these elections be conducted in a transparent manner and be deemed free and fair by international standards. In light of the decision of the International Republican Institute to withdraw its monitors from Pakistan due to the security situation, and continuing resistance by the government of Pakistan on allowing free access to monitors, including unannounced visits to polling stations and exit-polling at polling stations, I am concerned that international observers will not be able to adequately monitor and assess the elections.

I also am concerned about the impact on the elections of the lack of an independent judiciary. The refusal of President Musharraf to reinstate the provincial high court judges and Supreme Court justices he removed threatens the legitimacy of the elections. As you know, the Electoral Commission of Pakistan is comprised of high court judges, all of whom have been hand selected by, and are loyal to, the current government. Any tribunals named to hear elections complaints will be comprised of these high court justices and all of the district judges supervising balloting around the country report to the high court judges. I expect that State Department staff in Washington, D.C., as well as our Embassy in Islamabad are working to resolve these concerns in an expeditious manner.

The reputation and standing of the United States with the people of Pakistan requires that we be firmly on the side of democracy in Pakistan. It is imperative that upon the conclusion of these elections, there is a frank and full assessment from the State Department of whether the elections indeed meet international standards. While it is my fervent hope that the elections will indeed be free and fair, I urge you to ensure that any U.S. reaction to the elections next week will include full disclosure of any serious irregularities.

Sincerely,

Nita M. Lowey
Chairwoman
Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs