The United States has made it clear that it does not have an assessment on the make-up of candidates or the representation of any specific political party in Pakistan. Addressing a news briefing in Washington on Tuesday, State Department Spokesperson Vedant Patel said this when asked to comment on announcement of election date in Pakistan. Vedant Patel was asked “Many analysts in Pakistan have their doubts because these elections are happening without the most popular leader, former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Any thoughts about that?” The State Department spokesperson responded: “Again, don’t have an assessment on the makeup of candidates or the representation of any specific political party. That is for the people of Pakistan to decide.”

 He further said that the US’s focus continues to be on ensuring and supporting “that there are free and fair elections that are conducted in a way for the benefit of the Pakistani people”. State Department spokesman’s statement came after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had announced to hold the elections on February 8. The ECP’s announcement came after Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa had directed the ECP to confer with President Arif Alvi on the poll date.

 Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)