WASHINGTON: The United States has said that it supports the civilian democratic governance in Pakistan and has taken no position on opposition parties marches planned for the country’s Independence Day.
In a statement, the US state department spokesperson Marie Harf said in Washington that the United States stands strongly in favor of a democratically elected civilian government in Pakistan but also respects people’s right to assemble.
The statement comes as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) are set to begin their long marches towards the federal capital on August 14 to protest against alleged rigging in the 2013 general elections and to press for electoral reforms.
On Wednesday night, the PTI Chairman Imran Khan in his address to the party workers in Lahore said that he sees a new Pakistan from tomorrow. He said that the monarchy will be overthrown and an apolitical interim set up will be installed in the country which will hold transparent elections in the country.
Imran Khan also rejected Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s proposal to have the PTI’s allegations of poll rigging investigated by a three-judge Supreme Court commission.
The PTI leader ruled out a transparent probe in the presence of the incumbent prime minister. “How can a commission conduct a transparent investigation in the presence of Nawaz Sharif who himself was involved in getting the elections rigged,” Imran asked.
