[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 29 (Wednesday, March 15, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H1051-H1052]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               THE PRESIDENT'S UPCOMING VISIT TO PAKISTAN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Washington (Mr. McDermott) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, I have taken the floor this afternoon to 
bring attention to the situation in the State of Pakistan. President 
Clinton has decided to include a stop in Pakistan during his upcoming 
tour to India and other parts of South Asia.
  I do not agree with that decision to go to Pakistan. I do not believe 
it is right to reward this military government, which forcefully seized 
power from a democratically-elected government, with such a high level 
visit.
  Pakistan has undergone political upheaval during most of its 52-year 
history. The military has overthrown the democratically-elected 
government four times, the latest being in November of last year. 
General Pervez Musharraf joined a long list of Pakistani generals who 
have usurped power in the unstable history of Pakistan. But unlike his 
three predecessors, General Musharraf has not laid out a plan to return 
to democracy.
  He has said he will not allow a democratically-elected government to 
come to power unless there are major and deep-seated institutional 
reforms in place. However, he has not acted to institute any of the 
changes that would help Pakistan's government meet these rather vague 
requirements. As far as I am aware, he has only instituted minor 
revenue reforms.
  Minor revenue reform is not what Pakistan needs. The Pakistani 
economy has all but collapsed. The judiciary is operating under loyalty 
oaths. A small upper class has a stranglehold on land and water, and 
the military and intelligence services have carte blanche to fly in the 
face of international law. Pakistan needs major overhauls of its 
institutions, not minor tax reforms.
  Pakistan spends 50 percent of its budget on debt service and 40 
percent of its budget on the military. That ratio is stunning. It is 
particularly alarming when we consider that Pakistan now has nuclear 
weapons. Economic growth is less than 2 percent, and foreign investment 
is almost nonexistent.
  If the President or the general has not demonstrated his desire to 
invoke real reforms, it is hard for me to understand why we should go 
there. If he did, he would tax, for the first time ever, the 
agricultural sector. This sector contributes 25 percent of the 
Pakistani GDP, and employs 60 percent of the population, but the 
general is unwilling to take any steps that would anger the feudal 
landlords who run Pakistan.

  The Constitution and the rule of law have been suspended in Pakistan. 
The judiciary is in turmoil. Defense attorneys are being gunned down, 
and judges are being forced to acquiesce to oaths of personal fealty to 
the strongman general. The total lack of justice as evidenced by the 
fate of Nawaz Sharif, the man who was elected by the people of Pakistan 
and overthrown by Musharraf.
  In a recent interview by the Washington Post and Newsweek, Musharraf 
was asked why Sharif was on trial for attempted murder and hijacking, 
not just corruption. Musharraf answered, ``Because he did do that.'' 
His guilt was not decided in a court of law, it was an edict from a 
military leader. Nawaz Sharif will be found guilty and executed in 
accordance with the general's law.
  The degradation of the rule of law in Pakistan defies the 
sensibilities of the world, and contradicts the definition of a modern 
Nation State. If Pakistan is to take its rightful place in the 
community of nations, Pakistan must reestablish the judicial process.
  With the rule of law suspended, Pakistan's military and intelligence 
service, the ISI, has conducted illegal operations that are inciting 
violence and tension in South Asia. Musharraf said in the interview 
that he has total control over the intelligence service, and that they 
are not involved in terrorist activities. This contradicts what is 
commonly reported in the world media and Musharraf's previous 
statements about the ISI activities in Kashmir.
  I ask Members again, how can Pakistan take its place in the world 
community if it constantly allows its services to defy international 
law by conducting military and terrorist activities? That is why I am 
concerned about the President's visit. Many experts have said that the 
Pakistani general hopes to use Mr. Clinton's trip to persuade the 
United States of what Musharraf calls ``the righteousness of Pakistan's 
position on Kashmir.''
  I call upon President Clinton to refrain from any involvement in the 
Kashmir dispute until both sides ask for our help. Instead, Mr. Clinton 
should put aside the gentle language of diplomacy and use this 
opportunity to demand that Pakistan move without pause towards full and 
fair elections.

[[Page H1052]]

  Pakistan is a sick state. Democratic elections will not cure what 
ails Pakistan. However, the healing process cannot begin without them.

                          ____________________