LEADING East Lancashire councillors today described the military coup in their Pakistani homeland as the one of the "blackest days" in his country's history.

Burnley councillor Rafique Malik joined Pakistanis all over East Lancashire in calling for a return to democracy after a military coup removed the government in Islamabad. And the first Asian Mayor of Blackburn with Darwen, Coun Salas Kiani, added: "I think we need to see the restoration of democracy and the sooner the better."

Troops loyal to army chief General Pervaiz Musharref staged the coup yesterday in a lightning move that has raised tensions in the world's newest nuclear region.

Soldiers confined Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to his home, seized the state-run media and in an address to the nation accused the government of destroying state institutions and driving the economy towards collapse.

Coun Malik, who is secretary of the Lancashire Council of Mosques, said: "I think this is one of the blackest days in the history of Pakistan and I am sure everybody is upset democracy has been invaded yet again by the army.

"I would like to see democracy restored as soon as possible because one of the worrying aspects of this is the effect it will have on relations in the region.

"The Prime Minister had tried to defuse the situation with the escalation of conflict with India with both India and Pakistan now, of course, being nuclear powers.

"I believe what has happened is directly linked to the problems in Kashmir because the Prime Minister wanted a moderate approach and the army did not like it."

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