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President Bush is scheduled to visit Pakistan next weekend, where he will meet with the leader of the Islamic nation to discuss goals for a more democratic Pakistan. A human rights watchdog is urging Bush to press Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf to resign as army chief and hold fair elections.
"Turning a blind eye to Musharraf's ongoing power grab undermines the Bush administration's aim of fostering democracy in the Muslim world," said Brad Adams, director of the Asia division at Human Rights Watch, in a released statement. "President Bush must tell Musharraf that he can no longer count on U.S support to subvert the Pakistani constitution and block genuine elections."
Musharraf is both army chief and president, although the Pakistani constitution prohibits the chief of the army from holding political office. While the Islamic state is slated to hold national elections next year, what many view as a test of the country's commitment to democratic reform, recent public statements by Pakistani government officials, according to Human Rights Watch, indicate it being delayed for a year.
During an interview on Friday, Bush addressed the terrorism in Pakistan and a democracy that would defeat the lack of freedom and provide hope.
"They have a vision," he told reporters, referring to the Islamic extremists, "and ... it's a vision that doesn't recognize the freedom of people to worship. It's a vision that doesn't understand the ... importance of women in society, or free speech."
Religious minority groups in Pakistan have continually suffered under the government, with each government failing as candidates have been elected on religious grounds, according to Group Captain Cecil Chaudhry, a leading human rights activist.
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Christians have more commonly fallen under persecution but some religious leaders see progress with the abolition of the separate electorate system and steps toward dialogue with Muslim fundamentalists.
"We still have our doubts and fears," said Bishop Samuel Azariah, moderator of the Church of Pakistan, according to Crisis Magazine, "but we also believe that President Musharraf is the most minority-friendly leader we have ever had."
Bush recognized and appreciated the Pakistani president's vision for democracy. Freedom and democracy, however, remain far from being achieved and many are looking toward the 2007 elections for democratic reform.
