Miliband calls for early election to replace Musharraf

UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband today called for the early election of a new president in Pakistan following the resignation of Pervez Musharraf.

Mr Miliband said Mr Musharraf’s decision to step down ended a “critical period” in Pakistan’s history and paved the way for the recently-elected government to act in the long-term interests of the country’s people.

The UK foreign secretary also paid tribute to Mr Musharraf’s “commitment to tackle terrorism, to promote dialogue with India, especially over Kashmir, and to root out corruption.”

His comments came shortly after Downing Street paid tribute to Mr Musharraf for improving relations between the UK and Pakistan.

Mr Miliband described Pakistan as a “vital friend” and said the UK would remain “strongly committed” to its relationship with the country.

But he added that Britain had always emphasised the need for strong institutions rather than strong individuals, and said the responsibilities on Pakistan’s political leaders were now “significant”.

In a statement, Mr Miliband said: “The announcement by President Musharraf that he is standing down as president brings to a close a critical period in Pakistan’s history and its relations with the UK and other countries.

“Pakistan is a vital friend of the UK and it is essential for Britain’s security, never mind the personal ties that bind nearly one million British people to Pakistan, that it has a strong and democratic government with a clear mandate and programme for thorough-going reform of its social, political and economic structures.

“In this context, the Musharraf years yielded significant dividends, notably in the economic field but also, until last autumn, in areas like media freedom.

“It is important to highlight President Musharraf’s commitment to tackle terrorism, to promote dialogue with India, especially over Kashmir, and to root out corruption.

“But reform depends above all on legitimacy, and that is why the UK has been at pains to stress the importance for Pakistan of strong institutions rather than strong individuals, and why we believe a strong democracy is key.

“The responsibilities on political leaders in Pakistan are now significant. They need to come together to ensure that the recently elected government carries forward an economic and security agenda consistent with the long-term interests of the Pakistani people.

“The UK will remain strongly committed to its partnership with the Pakistani people, notably through our aid programme.

“We will also continue to deepen our security cooperation with the new government.

“And we will be clear about the essential nature of a new partnership between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

“I look forward to the early election of a new president in Pakistan to take forward the important shared work that binds our two countries together.”

Downing Street had earlier stressed that Pakistan’s relations with Britain were not reliant on Mr Musharraf.

“During President Musharraf’s time in office we have seen a deepening of UK-Pakistan relations,” a spokesman for UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown said.

“We wish him well in the future.

“But relations between the UK and Pakistan don’t depend on individuals and as we have made clear we support measures that promote strong democratic institutions which lead to greater stability, democracy and rule of law in Pakistan.”