WASHINGTON
\nThe 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.
\nAddressing 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.
\nThe spokesperson also said, \u201cWe urge Pakistani authorities to move forward with the electoral process in a manner consistent with Pakistan\u2019s laws as we do with countries around the world.\u201d
\nResponding to another question, the spokesperson said that Pakistan is an important partner of the US and \u201cwe greatly value the relationship between our countries, our governments and people-to-people connections.\u201d
\nReplying to another query, Miller said that the US would encourage Pakistan and Afghanistan to work together to resolve Torkham border issue.
\nThis 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.
\nDuring 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.
\nMiller 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: \u201cI 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.\u201d
\nHe further said \u201cSo, 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.\u201d
\nThe United States, he said, did not support any political party or candidate in Pakistan but \u201cof course, we urge free and fair elections in Pakistan as we do throughout the world.\u201d
\nIt is pertinent to mention here that US Ambassador Donald Blome had assured Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja of his country\u2019s support for conducting fair, free and transparent elections in Pakistan during their meeting held on August 24.
\nAccording 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\u2019s constitution and law, the statement had read.
\nBlome had stressed that choosing Pakistan\u2019s 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.
\nIn 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 \u2018transparent and inclusive\u2019 elections in Pakistan.
\nDuring 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.
\nIn her post shared on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Ms Marriott wrote: \u201cImportant introductory meeting with Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja at @ECP_Paksitan today.
\n\u201cWe agreed that it\u2019s crucial the country sees free, credible, transparent and inclusive elections in line with the law.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-355912","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n