By Anne Penketh, Diplomatic Editor
The European Union has linked future co-operation with Pakistan to the holding of "free, fair and secure" parliamentary elections, as President Pervez Musharraf embarked on a European tour to shore up support for the polls on 18 February following the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.
Despite the lifting of the state of emergency last month, Amnesty International says "arbitrary arrests and detentions, enforced disappearances, and torture and ill-treatment – coupled with pervasive political violence undermine the prospect of free and fair elections".
The country's most popular television station, Geo TV, was allowed back on air yesterday after executives signed a code of conduct which government critics say limits press freedoms.
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