Lawmakers resist hard-line reaction to Bhutto slaying

A bipartisan group of House lawmakers condemned the assassination of Benazir Bhutto Tuesday in a resolution, but stopped short of taking a hard line in the first formal congressional response toward the Pakistani government since her death.

The non-binding resolution, introduced by Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-N.Y.) and co-sponsored by 16 other House members from both parties, is not expected to draw a lobbying pushback from the Pakistani Embassy in Washington. Written in mild terms, the language does not call for an additional international or U.N.-led investigation into the assassination, and it does not ascribe blame to any specific group.

{mosads}Instead, the resolution expresses support for the pursuit of those responsible for the killing of Pakistan’s ex-prime minister, and expressed condolences to the Bhutto family and other families affected by the Dec. 27, 2007 tragedy.

Lawmakers also urged Pakistani leaders to be relentless in the pursuit of a democratically elected government, pressing for free and fair elections at the earliest possible opportunity. Elections initially scheduled for Jan. 8 were postponed until Feb. 18 following the assassination.

While some Democrats want to impose tougher restrictions on aid to President Pervez Musharraf’s regime, Democrats also want to avoid restricting the ability of a future Democratic administration to act on foreign policy. They also do not want to be seen as turning their backs on Pakistan — an important ally in the war on terror — as doing so would leave them vulnerable to charges of being weak on the war against terrorism.

The House is expected to vote today on the resolution, which according to several sources will receive wide support. The measure has drawn support across the ideological spectrum, with co-sponsors including Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas), Howard Berman (D-Calif.), Mike Pence (R-Ind.) and Ted Poe (R-Texas).

Ackerman, the chairman of the Middle East and South Asia Foreign Affairs subcommittee, will also hold a hearing today on U.S.-Pakistan relations.

Meanwhile, lobbyists for Bhutto’s political party — the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) — have been pressing Congress to call for an independent investigation into Bhutto’s death. Currently, the United Kingdom’s Scotland Yard is performing the investigation.

The PPP is represented in Washington by Burson-Marsteller and BKSH & Associates. The lobbyists for the party declined to comment on the resolution.

Ackerman’s resolution comes a week after Pakistan’s ambassador to Washington sent a letter to lawmakers in an effort to appease members and restore Pakistan’s image. The widely circulated letter thanks Congress for its continued support for Pakistan and emphasizes Pakistan’s commitment to fight terrorism and extremism, calling it “total and unshakeable.”

Ambassador Mahmud Ali Durrani also assured lawmakers that the interim government, in consultation with the Election Commission, has made foolproof arrangements for free, fair and peaceful elections on Feb. 18.

The Pakistani Embassy expressed disappointment at Congress’s decision to withhold $50 million in military assistance but assured lawmakers that it would not have “a negative impact on the strategic partnership between the two countries.”

As part of the 2008 appropriations process, Congress allocated $300 million in military assistance to Pakistan, but withheld another $50 million on the condition that the U.S. Secretary of State certify to Congress that the government of Pakistan was making progress on restoring constitutional government, including freedom of assembly, restoring an independent judiciary and ending the harassment and detention of journalists. The remaining $250 million is available for efforts to counter al Qaeda, the Taliban and associated groups from operating in Pakistan or from using Pakistan as a sanctuary.

The debate over whether Congress will decide to withhold even more military aid will play out over the fiscal 2009 budget process.

Pakistan observers intimate that Congress is likely to put more conditions on military aid, but could be more generous with economic assistance.

The 2008 omnibus spending bill no longer allows cash transfers to Pakistan’s treasury. The $350 million in so-called economic support funds now must follow programming channels of established U.S. programs with specific purposes.

In previous years, cash transfers totaled about $200 million, according to congressional sources.