US ‘ready’ to work with Pakistan’s interim setup on ‘free and fair’ polls

The United States said Tuesday it is looking forward to working with the Anwaar-ul-Haq-led interim government, which will see the country through to an election due in months.

“We look forward to working with the interim prime minister and his team as they prepare to hold elections,” State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said during a press briefing.

The deputy spokesperson acknowledged that the United States was aware of the allied government’s dissolution and the appointment of Kakar as the caretaker prime minister.

“We, of course, will continue to partner with Pakistan on areas of mutual interest, including our interest on Pakistan’s economic stability, prosperity, and security, and the conduct of free and fair elections and the respect for democracy and the rule of law.”

Politicians from both sides — the former government and opposition — had welcomed the appointment and hoped that the interim PM would ensure free and fair polls in the country.

Kakar’s first task — as he takes charge of a country that has been wracked by political and economic instability for months — is to choose a cabinet to run the country as it heads into an election period that could last for months.

Parliament was officially dissolved last week, with elections due within 90 days according to the constitution.

Read more: Senator Anwarul Haq Kakar to be caretaker premier

But data from the latest census was finally published earlier this month, and the outgoing government said the election commission needed time to redraw constituency boundaries.

There has been speculation for months that the vote would be delayed as the authorities struggle to stabilise a country facing overlapping security, economic and political crises.