US State Department: “It is not for the US to dictate Pakistan’s exact specifics” for holding elections

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Staff Reporter

3 years ago

According to spokesman Matthew Miller, the people of Pakistan will decide who will lead the nation in the future.

WASHINGTON: On Thursday, State Department Spokesman Matthew Miller stated that the US would keep assisting Islamabad’s dynamic democracy and freedom of expression.

In response to a question during a media briefing, Miller stated that Pakistan should not be subject to US dictates regarding the precise details of how it will conduct the upcoming elections.

The spokesperson stated that the US wanted the elections to be held in a free, fair, and peaceful manner “that includes freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and association, and ultimately a full, open, reliable, vibrant democratic process,” avoiding a direct response to the question of the alleged creation of obstacles for some political leaders coming to file nomination papers.

He declared that the Pakistani people would decide who would lead the country in the future. The democratic process is what we are interested in. We don’t favor one candidate or party over another in Pakistan or anywhere else in the world, and we want to see free and fair elections held in compliance with Pakistani law,” he continued.

In response to a query regarding Imran Khan, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, accusing the US of interfering with his government’s removal because he would not allow the US to build a military base in Pakistan, the spokesperson declared that “the former prime minister’s accusations are baseless.”

The US recognized Pakistan’s importance as a “major” ally on December 12, 2023, and announced plans to collaborate with it on regional security and defense cooperation.

Miller had stated that Pakistan was a significant NATO partner and non-NATO ally in response to a question at a press conference.

Staff Reporter