Pakistani Urges US to Oppose Elections

A Pakistani politician turned heads last week by touting a rare view to US policymakers: Don't back Pakistan's elections. Without an independent judiciary, elections will only hurt the country, Imran Khan warned. He urged lawmakers in New York and Washington to "back the democratic process, by insisting on the reinstatement of the judges, rather than back any individual in an election."

Pakistan's former cricket captain and leader of the Pakistan Movement for Justice party, Khan pointed to Egypt and Zimbabwe as counter-examples: “All of these people are holding elections for years and nothing happens,” he said. “Elections don't bring democracy.” Meanwhile, President Pervez Musharraf is touring Europe, vowing he can best keep the peace in Pakistan after next month's vote. (More Pakistan elections stories.)