WASHINGTON
The United States has once again called on Pakistan to hold free, fair and timely elections as Western diplomats continued to hold meetings with the senior Pakistani election officials.
Addressing his daily news briefing in Washington, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller underlined the need for respecting human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law in Pakistan.
The spokesperson also said, “We urge Pakistani authorities to move forward with the electoral process in a manner consistent with Pakistan’s laws as we do with countries around the world.”
Responding to another question, the spokesperson said that Pakistan is an important partner of the US and “we greatly value the relationship between our countries, our governments and people-to-people connections.”
Replying to another query, Miller said that the US would encourage Pakistan and Afghanistan to work together to resolve Torkham border issue.
This is not the first time State Department made a statement about elections in Pakistan. Two days ago, Miller had also dispelled impression that the US was trying to influence the upcoming elections in Pakistan.
During the news briefing on Monday last, Miller while reacting to the meeting between US Ambassador Donald Blome with Pakistani Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja last month, said Washington was not trying to influence the upcoming general elections in Pakistan as it had no political favourite there.
Miller had offered this assurance while responding to a question from a journalist, who asked why an ambassador should meet the chief election official of a country. Miller responded: “I would refer you to the embassy for specific comments on that meeting, which, I am sure, they will be happy to provide. But I think I see where you are going with the question.”
He further said “So, I would reiterate what I have said a number of times, which is that the United States does not take any position with respect to the outcome of an election in Pakistan.”
The United States, he said, did not support any political party or candidate in Pakistan but “of course, we urge free and fair elections in Pakistan as we do throughout the world.”
It is pertinent to mention here that US Ambassador Donald Blome had assured Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja of his country’s support for conducting fair, free and transparent elections in Pakistan during their meeting held on August 24.
According to the statement released by the US Embassy, Blome had called on ECP chief Sikandar Sultan Raja in Islamabad to discuss important matters related to fair and free elections. The US will help Islamabad in holding free and fair elections in accordance with Pakistan’s constitution and law, the statement had read.
Blome had stressed that choosing Pakistan’s future leaders is the right of the people of the country and the US will continue to work with the elected representatives of Pakistan to deepen and expand bilateral relations.
In a related development, British High Commissioner to Pakistan Jane Marriott also had met with Pakistani Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja at his office in Islamabad on Wednesday and insisted on ‘transparent and inclusive’ elections in Pakistan.
During the meeting, both the British diplomat and CEC Sikandar Sultan agreed that it was crucial to hold free, credible, transparent and inclusive elections in accordance with the law.
In her post shared on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Ms Marriott wrote: “Important introductory meeting with Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja at @ECP_Paksitan today.
“We agreed that it’s crucial the country sees free, credible, transparent and inclusive elections in line with the law.”
