ISLAMABAD: The European Union cautioned Pakistan on Wednesday against lifting ‘de facto moratorium’ (a law ending mandatory death sentencing), saying such a move will greatly weaken Islamabad’s case to seek duty-free access to the markets of the 27-nation bloc.
“Any move away from de facto moratorium on the death penalty will be received badly in the EU parliament,” said Jean Lambert, Chairperson of the delegation for relations with the countries of South Asia.
Lambert was talking to a select group of journalists at the conclusion of a visit by an EU parliamentary delegation, meant to inspect the country’s preparation for upcoming elections, economic reforms, as well as progress on human rights issues.
Pakistan has been vying for the status of Generalised System for Preferences plus, known as GSP plus, which will allow select developing countries to export duty-free goods to members of the EU from 2014.
Lambert said the GSP plus was a human rights instrument as well as a trading instrument and carries certain obligations in terms of international agreements on rights.
She added that EU parliament’s members were of the view that the GSP plus concessions should not be utilised by countries that still have the death penalty.
Lambert clarified, however, that the GSP plus was still being debated in the parliament, and thus, there was no final agreement – the abolition of the death penalty is not yet a formal condition.
“Continuing moratorium, and specially making some statement about the moratorium, would certainly be helpful in seeking GSP plus status,” said another member of the EU parliament.
Source: The Express Tribune, July 19, 2012
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