WASHINGTON: State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said that the United States does not take any position with respect to the outcome of an election in Pakistan.
The spokesperson was briefing the media in Washington when he was asked a question regarding meeting of the US Ambassador Donald Blome with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja
“United States does not take any position with respect to the outcome of an election in Pakistan,” the US spokesperson said
“We do not support any one political party or any candidate in Pakistan. But we of course urge free and fair elections in Pakistan, as we do throughout the world,” he added
Replying to another question, the spokesperson said that the United States supports reforms for the improvement of the economy in Pakistan.
Last month, US Ambassador to Pakistan Donald Blome met CEC Sikander Sultan Raja in Islamabad to discuss important matters related to fair and free elections.
A spokesperson of the US Embassy said in a statement that Ambassador Blome met with Chief Election Commissioner Raja to reaffirm the support “for free and fair elections conducted in accordance with Pakistan’s laws and constitution”.
“The ambassador reiterated that choosing Pakistan’s future leaders is for the Pakistani people to decide, and that the United States remains committed to working to broaden and deepen the US–Pakistan relationship with whomever the Pakistani people choose,” the embassy’s spokesperson added.
The US will help Islamabad in holding free and fair elections in accordance with Pakistan’s constitution and law, the statement read.
Donald Blome 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۔
