WASHINGTON (TLTP): The United States has said that it expects the upcoming general elections in Pakistan to be conducted in a manner that is both free and fair and follows the country’s laws.
Addressing a news briefing in Washington, US State Department spokesperson Mathew Miller said “It’s not for the United States to dictate to Pakistan the exact specifics of how it conducts its election.”
Miller said “But to make clear that we want to see those elections conducted in a free, fair and peaceful manner that includes freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, and ultimately a full, open, reliable, vibrant democratic process.”
He was responding to charges that the caretaker government was cracking down on the political party of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan and its members who are filing nomination papers to contest elections.
“I will just say, as we have said before, the former prime minister’s accusations are baseless, and I think I’ll leave it at that,” Miller said when asked for his reaction to Imran Khan’s claims accusing the US of orchestrating the ouster of PTI’s government.
Pakistan is scheduled to hold elections on February 8, but the democratic process has been marred by widespread allegations of pre-poll rigging.
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