[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 23538]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        CONCERNS WITH THE PAKISTANI PARLIAMENT'S RELIGIOUS BLOC

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 22, 2002

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to 
express my concerns regarding the Pakistani Parliament and in 
particular, the efforts of the Islamic alliance to form a governing 
coalition in Parliament with either the King's Party, led by President 
Musharraf, or the People's Party, led by Benazir Bhutto.
  Mr. Speaker, during Parliamentary elections held in Pakistan last 
month, members of the Pakistani religious bloc known as the Islamic 
allies unexpectedly won 60 out of 342 seats. Not only was this 
surprising, but furthermore, the outcome of the elections was divided 
in such a way that no party won the number of seats necessary to form a 
government.
  As a result, the Islamic allies have been negotiating separately with 
the pro-Musharraf party and the Bhutto party in an effort to form a 
coalition and thereby create a majority. Their intent is to demand a 
reversal of constitutional amendments introduced by Musharraf earlier 
this year, and most importantly, to overturn the amendment that allows 
Musharraf to dismiss Parliament.
  However, what concerns me greatly is that the members of this Islamic 
alliance, or this Pakistani religious bloc, won their seats based 
almost exclusively on an anti-American platform. In fact, this party's 
primary campaign message criticized Musharraf's support for the war on 
terror and denounced Musharraf's cooperation with the United States. In 
addition, a component of this party's message demanded that the U.S. 
military leave Pakistan and Afghanistan immediately. Lastly, the 
Islamic allies have encouraged Pakistanis to offer sanctuary to both 
the Taliban and Al-Qaeda and to embrace the work of Osama bin Laden.
  Mr. Speaker, I believe that for these reasons, it is imperative that 
Pakistan's religious bloc remain unsuccessful in forming a coalition 
with Musharraf's party or Bhutto's party. If in fact this party gained 
a majority and was able to implement its anti-US policies, the 
consequences would be devastating.
  At this stage, it does not seem as if the religious bloc will be able 
to achieve forming a government. However, Mr. Speaker, it is in the 
best interest of the U.S. to monitor this situation closely.

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