BRUSSELS
The European Parliament will put Pakistan under the spotlight as MEPs debate human rights in the country.
In a document seen ahead of the debate, MEPs will raise issues such as persecution of minorities, the death penalty and the blasphemy law and one of the caveats of the GSP+ deal is that Pakistan improves its human rights record.
British Conservative MEP and chairman of the Friends of Pakistan group, Dr Sajjad Karim, said that the debate may be hijacked by MEPs with a bias against the country.
Speaking from the European Parliament in Strasbourg, he said, “Like the majority of developing countries, Pakistan has many social and political problems and the path towards democracy is not easy. But it would be even more difficult for Pakistan if the EU took away its support.
He said, “The country, which successfully completed a five year term by a democratically elected government in 2013, is heading in the right direction.
Dr Karim said, “Stability comes one step at a time and the EU has made huge moves to provide assistance to the country, most recently in the form of the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP+) trade package which enables Pakistan to export more goods to the EU under zero tariffs.”
Dr Karim, an MEP for the North West of England, played an influential role in awarding GSP+ for Pakistan.
“The government of Pakistan were awarded GSP+ because there is plenty of potential for the country to improve and grow. However the EU is monitoring the country closely and we need to see results.”
The debate will take place in the European Parliament on April 17 from 15h CET.
