ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary General and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub Khan Thursday discussed with US Ambassador to Pakistan Donald Blome the state of democracy and the rule of law in Pakistan.
During the meeting with the US Ambassador, Leader of the Opposition Onar Ayub highlighted “the ‘vendetta’ unleashed against hundreds of political prisoners, including founder chairman Imran Khan, his wife and other PTI leaders, their trial by the military courts.”
According to the party’s Central Media Department here, during the meeting, detailed discussions were held on the state of democracy and the rule of law in Pakistan, as well as the state of basic human rights and the state of economy in the country. The party chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, senior leader Asad Qaiser and Information Secretary PTI Raoof Hasan were also part of the meeting.
The meeting also discussed ‘state aggression’ against people’s right to vote, ‘declared and undeclared restrictions on fundamental political freedoms, and illegal administrative measures against freedom of expression and communication’. They informed the US ambassador about the ongoing series of extra-constitutional and legal political vendetta against hundreds of political prisoners, including founder-chairman Imran Khan, his wife, men and women leaders of the PTI, as well as the contents of the recent report of the US State Department on the ongoing basic human rights violations in the country.
Opposition Leader Omar Ayub said that Pakistan is in the grip of a very serious political, constitutional and economic crisis. He emphasised that the fundamental rights, political freedoms and right to vote provided to the citizens by the Constitution are the guarantees of political stability in the country. Pakistan has a long history of deep business and economic relations with the US which also happens to be our largest trading partner, Ayub added. During the meeting, Omar Ayub also expressed his desire to continue and expand relations with the United States on the basis of mutual trust and respect for bilateral benefit. The US Ambassador’s reiterated commitment to continue to play a participatory role in Pakistan’s multifaceted development. The two sides also agreed on the continuation of bilateral relations.
Later, talking to the media, Omar Ayub said they discussed with the US ambassador the supremacy of the Constitution and the rule of law, military courts, the cases of the founder PTI and party leaders. He told the US Ambassador that they would not tolerate interference from any country. In response to queries, Ayub said that they discussed in general terms the PTI founder’s ouster under the London Plan, but they did not raise their reservations about the US role with the ambassador.
Omar said that the meeting was held at the initiative of the ambassador. The US Ambassador desired a meeting through the Foreign Office which was also attended by the US political officer, he said. “We have repeatedly said that these are internal problems of Pakistan and only the rule of law would usher in investment,” he said.
In a statement, the US embassy in Pakistan confirmed that Ambassador Blome met PTI leader Ayub and other opposition leaders.
The acting spokesperson of the US mission said: “The US ambassador underscored the need for far-reaching economic reforms, stable and secure future of the people in Pakistan.” Common interests, opportunities and shared goals were also discussed in the huddle, the spokesperson added. The US envoy stressed the need to expedite Green Alliance framework projects for climate change. The US support for economic reforms and recovery of the cash-strapped nation, issues related to regional security and human rights were also discussed, the spokesperson added.