U.S. President George W. Bush has waived restrictions in a democracy related law to pave the way for assistance to Pakistan this year, saying the step would help in transition to democratic rule in the country and is important to US counter-terrorism efforts, officials said. The waiver of the law came as Pakistan entered a new era of democracy with Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) taking oath as head of a coalition government following Feb 18 parliamentary elections. In the annual determination, Bush certified that the waiver of the Department of State, Foreign Operations and Related Programmes Appropriations Act with respect to Pakistan would facilitate the transition to democratic rule in Pakistan; and is important to US efforts to respond to deter or prevent acts of international terrorism. The US President issued a memo to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, authorizing her to transmit the determination to Congress, as required under the law. Pakistan is due to receive $ 300 million in security assistance from the United States in the current year to bolster its anti-terror efforts.
