Madam, - With reference to Julian Borger's report about the suicide bomb attack in Peshawar ... ( The Irish Times, May 16th), please note that Pakistan has an active parliament, an independent judiciary and a free media. The government of President Pervez Musharraf is working to strengthen democratic institutions and values in the country to promote growth and development. The government's commitment to freedom of expression, civil rights and respect for the judiciary is reflected in the protest rallies being freely organised by opposition political parties in Pakistan.
The judicial reference against the chief justice is a judicial and legal matter which is being proceeded with, in accordance with the constitutional and legal provisions of Pakistan. The killing of an official of the supreme court of Pakistan by unknown gunmen on May 14th, 2007 is a tragic incident which is being investigated by a judicial inquiry team. - Yours, etc,
ZEHRA AKBARI, Minister, Embassy of Pakistan, Ailesbury Road, Dublin 4.