The Hindu : PPP welcomes E.U. decision

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 29, 2002

International

International

PPP welcomes E.U. decision

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD April 28. The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) led by the former Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto, has welcomed the `decision' by the European Union to raise questions over the referendum and delay a cooperation pact with Pakistan till the October general elections.

In a press statement here today, the PPP quoted reports that the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee on Friday delayed the approval of a new E.U. cooperation agreement with Pakistan on the plea that it would review the pact after the October elections.

It claimed that Members of the Parliament declined to approve the E.U.-Pakistan accord after several members voiced scepticism over the legality of the April 30 referendum. The E.U.-Pakistan pact was signed in Islamabad last November as part of Europe's post-September 11 drive to improve relations with Pakistan.

The statement said John Cushnahan, an Irish MP and parliamentary rapporteur on Pakistan, asked for a delay in approving the pact because of the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf's move to call a referendum which he said was "wholly inappropriate and in conflict with the Pakistan Constitution''.

The PPP said the response of the E.U. to the fraudulent referendum had exposed the regime.

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