'Pakistan committed to economic and political reforms'

The United States has hailed Pakistan as a modernising state, committed to economic and political reforms, crediting President Pervez Musharraf with leading the way and also welcoming the fact that "people are free to express their opinions".
State Department spokesman Sean McCormack, while reaffirming continued US support for policies pursued by President Musharraf, also noted that demonstrations over judicial case against Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry were a sign of a "political system that is beginning to open up".
"Our view is that Pakistan is a modernising state. It is a state that is committed to economic and political reforms, and President Musharraf is the one who has led that way," McCormack said at a regular briefing.
As a result of changes, which Musharraf has instituted, the country has since 2001 moved in "the right direction in terms of its reforms," but is defining its own pace, he said.
"We're going to be right there with them as a partner as long as they continue along that track, which they are. And, we're going to encourage them along the way. And if there are issues, we're going to deal with them as friends. We're going to talk to them in a respectful manner, both in public and in private. But we won't hesitate to speak out," McCormack said.
Asked to comment on demonstrations on streets, he noted "difference of opinion over handling" of the judicial case against Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry and described as positive the fact that people were free to express their opinions.
"This is what you see in a political system that is beginning to open up, and that is positive; that people are free to express their opinions. Now, I understand sometimes that may look unsettling on your TV camera--but this is just--this is part of an emerging Pakistani democracy, and I think that we should look upon that as something that is positive. These are-this is the result of changes that President Musharraf has made. It's part of their opening up."
McCormack also reiterated US desire for "free, fair and transparent elections" that would reflect the will of the Pakistanis. "As for Pakistan's elections, ultimately it's going to be up to the Pakistani people to decide when those elections are held; how they are held, and all that goes on around them.
What we are calling for free, fair and transparent elections so that the will of the Pakistanis is reflected in the results," he said in response to a question about his earlier statement that the Pakistani leader would seek re-election from parliament.
When asked to comment on Assistant Secretary Richard Boucher's current visit to Pakistan, he said that he has not spoken specifically to him about his trip, but added that he (Boucher) "has a regular schedule of going out there and consulting with his interlocutors and people throughout Pakistani society, whether that's civil society or in political life. So it's a regular message of support for continuing political and economic reforms as well as specific discussions on discrete bilateral issues as well as regional issues."