What assurances have you had from Islamabad today that elections will take

Comment on General Election 2010 Poll Results by terence.

What assurances have you had from Islamabad today that elections will take place by the middle of January? And secondly, why not tie British development aid – some £480 million over the next three years – to human rights and to those elections really being free and fair when you have opposition figures clearly being locked up?
FOREIGN SECRETARY:

Well I think that the first thing to say is that there is real uncertainty coming out of Pakistan at the moment. We have had different statements by different people in the government, from the Prime Minister to the Attorney General. I think that President Musharraf has the opportunity to be absolutely clear about election dates, about his own position as a civilian leader, about media freedom and about human rights. So that is the sort of clarity that I think can only be helpful for Pakistan. We have had no assurances other than those that you have seen on the television. We have communicated our view very clearly and strongly to the government in Pakistan, but I do think now is the time for clarity to help Pakistanis – never mind the rest of us – to be clear about the situation. I think now is not the time for threats to aid that is important for the Pakistani people. I obviously think it is important that we made the commitments we have to doubling of aid to Pakistan, which is a very important country and has big development needs and has actually been making significant progress on its development goal. But I think that the next few weeks are going to be critical in determining the international community’s engagement with Pakistan across a whole range of issues //milliband the £695 billion has been over a few years!! i did see it but cannot remember where at!£ 895 million to India last year!! Sir lanka/ Ham-mass the list is endless our money Rather give it to our troops to sit at home and spend money here creating jobs