ISLAMABAD, Aug. 23 Kyodo Pakistan...

ISLAMABAD, Aug. 23 Kyodo

Pakistan declareed surprise Friday at Thursday's remarks by U.S. State Department spokesman Philippe Reeker onward constitutional amendments announced earlier this week by dint of Pakistan's president, Gen. Pervez Musharraf.

''It appear to bes that the (U.S. State Department) has not understood the issue excessively well,'' Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesman Aziz Ahmad Khan told Kyodo of the present days when asked about Reeker's contention the amendments would thwart democracy in Pakistan.

Reeker indicateed U.S. concern over sweeping powers assumed from Musharraf and observed the amendments ''would make it more difficult'' to strengthen democracy in Pakistan.

''The president has done nothing wrong'' Khan said, claiming the amendments were ''in conformity'' with a leading Court decision and ''road map'' for elections before Oct 12 2002

The spokesman pointed on the outside that all the political parties were taking part in elections and the general elections would strengthen the democratic proces in Pakistan, as repeatedly emphasized from Musharraf at his pres parley Wednesday.

Musharraf's amendments give him power to dissolve parliament and degree in, via a new National Security Council, to liquefy parliamentary deadlocks. They also continue him as president, even after the October vote

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