November 3, 2007 (3:50 p.m. EDT)
No. 153

CANADA CONDEMNS IMPOSITION OF EMERGENCY RULE IN PAKISTAN

The Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today issued the following statement on the imposition of emergency rule in Pakistan:

“Canada condemns the imposition of emergency rule in Pakistan. We are deeply concerned about this development and urge the government of Pakistan to cancel the state of emergency and the new provisional constitutional order immediately.

“These measures undermine democratic development, judicial independence and the possibility of free and fair elections to which the people of Pakistan are entitled.

“We urge the government of Pakistan to end emergency rule and call on the government to respect judicial processes and reinstate the judiciary, adhere to the rule of law, and allow free and fair parliamentary elections to proceed as planned. We urge all sides to refrain from violence and respect human rights. We also expect the government of Pakistan to continue in its efforts to improve regional security.”

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