Washington: A leading democrat has asked US President George W Bush to put pressure on Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to restore the democracy, fight extremists and terrorists in his country, and investigate the assassination of former premier Benazir Bhutto.

In a letter to Bush, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has also slammed the Republican administration for pouring billions of dollars in assistance to Islamabad even while Musharraf was undoing democratic institutions in the country. "I am writing out of continued deep concern about the current situation in Pakistan and your Administration s policy toward this critical country.

In early November 2007,I wrote to you urging a full review of your policy toward Pakistan as well as your overall policy to counter terrorist groups such as al-Qaeda," the top Senate Democrat told the President in his letter dated January 10,2008. "I believed then, and still believe, that your Administration s strategy in Pakistan and the fight against terrorist groups has failed to produce the results we seek," he said.

"The recent assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, only days before scheduled elections, has raised further questions about Pakistan s democracy," he said. "The record is so disturbing and the implications for our security so great that I believe additional pressure on President Musharraf to take the right steps is warranted.

I also believe his failure to do so should be met with real and significant consequences, including consideration of a cutoff of non-development funding," the Senate leader said.

Source : PTI