HUGHES PROMISES LIB DEM SUPPORT FOR FEBRUARY PAKISTAN ELECTIONS AND INDEPENDENT INQUIRY INTO BENAZIR BHUTTO'S DEATH

12.00.00am GMT Fri 25th Jan 2008

On 23rd January 2008 Simon Hughes, Liberal Democrat Party President met with Chaudhary Abdul Majeed, President of Pakistan Peoples Party Azad Kashmir (PPP) along with other PPP delegates in Westminster to discuss issues relating to the murder of Benazir Bhutto and upcoming elections in Pakistan.

PPP delegates had been sent from Pakistan to the U.K., U.S., Norway and the E.U. to lobby politicians to ensure that international pressure is maintained on Pakistan to hold democratic elections as soon as possible and to make sure that a full, independent and external investigation takes place into the death of Benazir Bhutto.

Speaking after the meeting, Simon Hughes said:

''The people of Pakistan have endured much instability and unrest in the past months. I am pleased to have met the delegation from the PPP and fully support their efforts to try and bring free and fair democratic elections to Pakistan in the very near future.

''The death of Benazir Bhutto has been a blow for democracy in Pakistan, for democracy in the region and democracy around the world. There should be no delay in the peoples of Pakistan to choose their democratic future.

''It is up to the international community to make sure this happens''.

ENDS