Date: 2007-11-05
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. this weekend a devastating blow was struck against the efforts to try to grow and make sustainable democracy in Pakistan when President Musharraf of Pakistan announced that he would have an emergency order which has essentially become martial law against all those in the country who disagreed with him. against all of those on the supreme court. all of those in the legal commuof Representatives nity. all of those in general society rid of the extremists and the terrorists. who disagree with him are now subject In fact. he has allowed the extremists to arrest. are subject to beatings. are to grow even in Islamabad. where their subject to imprisonment. That is presence wasnt known only a few wrong. and this country cannot look years ago. the other way. We must take a stand against these For too long this administration and actions. We must speak out. The adthis Congress have looked the other ministration has spoken out now. but way as President Musharraf has already questions are being raised as to worked to limit and now crush democ- whether or not we will condition aid. racy in Pakistan. Too many excuses whether or not we will forcefully show have been offered to allow him to con- Musharraf that we cannot have him tinue this trend against free and open crush democracy in Pakistan. Pakistan elections. against a growing democ- needs more democracy. not less. It racy. against a growing independent needs democracy to strengthen that press and TV stations because we said country so that it can reject exhe is helping us in Pakistan against tremism and terrorists. It needs free the terrorists. the Taliban. in Afghani- elections so that the people will believe stan. that they are represented. not by the Of course. what we know is that he continuing building of a dictatorship has played us over these many years as by President Musharraf who controls he has received billions of dollars in the military. who controls the intelaid. He has continued to play us to sug- ligence. and now is using them against gest that he is really concentrating on the very people that he is supposed to the effort to rid both Afghanistan and represent. and that is the people of Pakistan of terrorists. but in fact that Pakistan. We cannot stand by while he is not what has been taking place. In takes this extraordinary effort to crush fact. fie has cut agreements. he has ar- democracy. to potentially postpone the ranged for safe haven. for safe travel elections. to seize the independent for the Taliban as they have moved media. and to throw hundreds and hunback and forth against our troops and dreds so far of his citizens into jail beagainst people in Afghanistan who are cause they simply seek to oppose him trying to establish a democracy there. and. seek a brighter future. a. more Some months ago when I visited Af- democratic future for the country of �ghanistan. we asked the commander of Pakistan. our troops there what was the biggest The time has come for this country threat to our troops in Afghanistan. to take a very strong stand against the and he said the border with Pakistan. corruption of this government and the And that remains true today as the growing dictatorship presented by the Taliban move back and forth. as re- rule of President Musharraf. cruits from al Qaeda move back and forth. and at a time when President Musharraf simply gives voice to the idea that he is going to stop this from RECESS happening. that he is going to create The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuan environment where that will not be ant to clause 12(a) of rule I. the Chair allowed to continue. That simply has declares the House In re.cess until 2 not happened. because President p.m. today. Musharraf has been more interested in Accordingly (at 12 oclock and 37 securing his reelection as the leader of minutes p.m.). the House stood in rePakistan than he has been in getting cess until 2 p.m. [l 1400