Washington: The Pakistani government’s announcement of early elections “encouraged” a top US official on Friday.
The coalition government’s mandate ends on August 12, however authorities have suggested dissolving the assembly around August 8.
“We are hoping for a free, fair, and peaceful election”. US Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Elizabeth Horst told Pakistani journalists in Washington.
“Pakistanis choose their leaders.” We’re neutral. We support Pakistan’s democracy and law.”
On polls last week, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said the US “supports the peaceful upholding of fundamental democratic principles such as free media, free speech, freedom assembly” in Pakistan.
If the NA dissolved after its term, the ECP would hold elections before October 11.
Last week, US State Department Pakistan bureau chief Horst stated the US would work with whatever government elected by Pakistanis as the existing authorities’ term nears.
“We do not have any position on any political candidate or party”. Horst stated at a Houston conference on Pakistan-US relations.
Parliament’s term ends on August 12. Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb stated no general election date determined yet.
She tweeted, “No decision has so far taken on the dissolution of the parliament”. She added that the election date would announced once coalition partners consulted.
After months of political and economic turmoil, the elections may be delayed for a year.
A caretaker government has 90 days to call a general election if a government passes up power early, but 60 days if it does so on time.
After Imran Khan’s ouster in April 2022, Shehbaz Sharif’s coalition took charge.
Since then, Khan has called for a hasty election, organised nationwide protests, and strained relations with the administration.
