Date:04/11/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/11/04/stories/2007110450310100.htm

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Delhi regrets development

New Delhi: New Delhi on Saturday regretted the imposition of emergency in Pakistan. The External Affairs Ministry said India hoped that normality would soon return to allow the transition to democracy.

“We regret the difficult times that Pakistan is passing through,” External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna said.

“We trust that conditions of normalcy will soon return permitting Pakistan’s transition to stability and democracy to continue,” he added.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told CNN television on Saturday Pakistan’s declaration of emergency rule was “highly regrettable” and she hoped its intention was to have free and fair elections.

Sharif warning

The exiled former Pakistan premier Nawaz Sharif condemned the imposition of emergency and warned that it was heading towards chaos.

Mr. Sharif, who is currently in Saudi Arabia, urged all political parties, including rival Benazir Bhutto’s Peoples Democratic Party (PPP), to come together to oppose the move.

The former Pakistan Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto, arrived at Karachi airport from Dubai on Saturday, her spokesman in London told AFP. “She’s at Karachi airport. I spoke to her on the plane as it was taxiing. She doesn’t know whether she will be allowed to get off…,” Wajid Hasan said. — Agencies