Not for US to dictate Pakistan on polls: State Dept

During press briefing spokesperson stated that Pakistan’s future leadership was for Pakistani people to decide

By Wajid Ali Syed
January 05, 2024
State Department US building can be seen in this picture. — AFP/File
State Department US building can be seen in this picture. — AFP/File

WASHINGTON: The US will continue to support democratic expression and vibrant democracy in Pakistan without dictating Islamabad how to conduct the upcoming national elections in the country, the State department spokesperson said here on Thursday.

“Not for the United States to dictate to Pakistan exact specifics of how it conducts its elections,” the spokesperson said. He asserted that the US wants to see “those elections conducted in a free, fair and a peaceful manner that includes freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and association and ultimately a full, open, reliable, vibrant democratic process.”

During the press briefing the spokesperson stated that Pakistan’s future leadership was for the Pakistani people to decide. “Our interest is in the democratic process. We want to see free and fair elections conducted in accordance with Pakistan’s laws and we don’t support one candidate or party over another in Pakistan or anywhere else in the world.”

Responding to a question about Imran Khan’s repeated allegations of so-called American interference in ousting his government, the spokesperson said that, “the former prime minister’s accusations are baseless.”