PTI, Islamabad :
Opposing any extra-constitutional changes in Pakistan, the United States Embassy on Thursday brushed aside aspersions that Washington is in any manner in discussions between the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT0 and the Nawaz Sharif government, saying any “suggestions to the contrary is false and unhelpful”.
The State Department, meanwhile, pointed out that the US sees Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif as constitutionally elected and Washington did not support any extra-constitutional changes to (Pakistan’s) democratic system.
Running out of options for criticism, Imran Khan has now turned his guns on the United States threatening it for its statements.Turning to Ambassador Richard Olson, Imran thundered, “If an election took place in the US and a Congressman said that majority of the votes could not be verified, wouldn’t that constitute a full blown enquiry in America? Are Pakistanis children of a lesser God?”
The spokesman at the US Embassy did not shy away but in a statement said, “The US has been carefully monitoring the demonstrations in Islamabad. We continue to urge all sides to refrain from violence, exercise restraint, and respect the rule of law. Peaceful protest and freedom of expression are important aspects of democracy. However, the United States is in no way involved in the process or discussions between parties. Any suggestion to the contrary is false and unhelpful to the dialogue between parties”.
The statement added that violence and destruction of private property and government buildings are not acceptable means of resolving political differences.”We strongly oppose any efforts to impose extra-constitutional change to the political system”, the US warned, saying that it believes that, “all parties should work together to resolve differences through peaceful dialogue in ways that strengthen Pakistan’s democratic institutions and rule of law.”
Earlier, the spokesperson at State Department, according to media reports from Washington, made it clear that the United States was in no way suggesting a regime change in Pakistan.”I in no way am calling on that”, she responded, when questioned if the US is calling for Nawaz to step down. “We support the constitutional and electoral process in Pakistan”, the spokesperson said at the daily briefing.
