US removes military coup-related restrictions from Pakistan

Washington, Apr 9 : The United States has removed military coup-related restrictions from Pakistan, enabling the latter to continue to receive American assistance in the future.

A notification published in the US Federal Register noted that since an elected government had taken office in Pakistan from March 25, there was no justification for continuing coup-related restrictions on the country.

A US law limits funding to countries where the head of state or government is deposed by a military coup, as President Pervez Musharraf had done in Pakistan.

Before the notification, Pakistan needed an annual waiver from the White House to continue to receive US assistance, the Dawn reported.

On March 24, President George Bush issued the last coup-related waiver for Pakistan, certifying that "a waiver ... would facilitate the transition to democratic rule in Pakistan and it is important to US efforts to respond to deter, or prevent acts of international terrorism."

The waiver asked the US Congress to approve 300 million dollars in security assistance for Pakistan, ignoring the restrictions that prohibit such aid to a country ruled by the military.

ANI