News
August 25 , 2023
United States Ambassador to Pakistan Donald Blome called on Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar at PM House in Islamabad on Friday, August 25, 2023 – PID
US Wants Free and Fair Polls in Pakistan, Ambassador Blome Tells PM Kakar
Islamabad: United States Ambassador to Pakistan Donald Blome conveyed on Friday Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar that the US wanted free and fair elections in Pakistan, amid speculations that the elections might get delayed and political parties may not get a level-playing field.
During the meeting, the US ambassador also said that the US wanted Pakistan to ensure protection of religious minorities in the wake of Jaranwala incident, in which hundreds of Muslim men vandalized dozens of Christian homes and torched churches in a Christian neighborhood on the pretext of blasphemy.
The US envoy also encouraged the interim premier Kakar to continue partnership with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on economic recovery – a statement suggesting that Pakistan should be steadfast in abiding by the IMF program conditions.
Ambassador Blome called on the caretaker premier at PM House in Islamabad just a day after the US envoy met the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and reaffirmed US’ support for free and fair elections in Pakistan.
In response to the US stance on holding free and fair elections, the interim premier “emphasized that the caretaker government’s main responsibility is to assist the ECP in the electoral process and provide constitutional continuity during the period of democratic transition.”
In a post on X, the US embassy also shared that the US envoy was delighted to meet with caretaker PM Kakar and he “reaffirmed steadfast commitment to US-Pakistan relationship, support for free and fair elections, desire to work with and through US Pakistan Green Alliance to build for the future.”
The post further added that the US “encouraged protection of religious minorities, and continued partnership with IMF on economic recovery.”
The official statement released by the PM Office following the meeting stated that Ambassador Blome congratulated the prime minister on assuming office and reaffirmed the United States’ desire for supporting Pakistan’s economic and development agenda.
The statement said that the prime minister said that Pakistan and the US enjoyed longstanding and broad-based relations, rooted in mutual respect, common interests, and shared values.
PM Kakar expressed satisfaction on the current positive trajectory of bilateral ties and reaffirmed the government’s desire to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in key areas including trade and investment, energy, security, and climate change.
PM Kakar appreciated the US’ role in helping Pakistan to stabilize its economy and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to continue the reform agenda for achieving sustainable growth.
Noting the role that the US private sector has traditionally played in supporting Pakistan’s economic growth, PM Kakar hoped that more US companies would explore investment opportunities, particularly in Pakistan’s information technology sector.
Lauding the important contributions of the Pakistani-American community towards strengthening ties between the two countries, PM Kakar called for increasing people-to-people contacts between the two countries… - The Express Tribune
Courtesy The Express Tribune
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