WASHINGTON: The State Department said Thursday that the US “supports the peaceful upholding of fundamental democratic principles. Such as free media, free speech, and freedom of assembly” in Pakistan and around the world.
Matthew Miller, a spokesman for the State Department, said this on Thursday during a regular briefing. He was asked about the elections that are due to happen later this year.
“A lot is at stake in the next election. The experts think it’s unlikely that the elections in Pakistan will be free and fair. He asked, “How does the U.S. help and support the idea of free and fair elections in Pakistan?”
Miller replied, “We support the peaceful upholding of basic democratic principles like freedom of the press. As well as freedom of speech, and freedom of assembly”. We fight for the rule of law everywhere, not just in Pakistan. These ideas are what make free elections possible.”
The government hinted that it might get rid of the National Assembly before its formal term ends on August 12. Coalition partners are currently talking about how to set up a caretaker government.
Zafar Iqbal, the Special Secretary of Pakistan’s Election Commission, said that if the NA disbanded before the end of its term, the polls held before October 11.
Terrorism
Miller said that the leaders of Kabul would held responsible for their promises to the international community. He was talking about terrorist attacks in Pakistan. As well as the role of the Taliban government in stopping rebels from using Afghan land.
“But, as we’ve said before, we still can run our own operations in the area to ensure that. No matter what the Taliban says or how willing or able they are to keep their promises, we have the right to protect American interests,” he said.
Pakistan has seen a rise in terrorist attacks since the Afghan Taliban took power again in August 2021. Pakistan has asked the caretaker leaders to take strong action against terrorists, like the TTP, who are responsible for attacks across the border.
A study from the independent think tank Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) showed that the number of terrorist acts in the country rose by 79% in the first half of 2023.
From July 18 to July 20, four terrorist attacks hit the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, killing six law enforcement officers and hurting many others.
The rights of minorities
In response to a question about the rights of minorities in Pakistan, the US official said that they “support the free exercise of religion anywhere in the world and oppose any attempts or uses of violence to suppress that right of people to exercise their freedom of religion.”
The reporter who asked the question said that he had heard that a 150-year-old Hindu temple had been destroyed in Karachi, which is known as the “city of lights.”
Local officials have rejected the rumours. Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab said, “No such destruction of the mandir has happened, and the mandir is still standing.”
Attacks on Hindu shrines, on the other hand, are a very sad fact of life in Pakistan.
A group of thieves recently shot mortar shells at the temple of the Baghariji minority community near Ghouspur in the district of Kashmore. The temple is called Gulshan Dera Baba Sanwal Shah.
Sindh’s minister for minorities, Giyanchand Essrani, then told dacoits in the province’s riverine belt not to hurt the Hindus who have lived there quietly for hundreds of years.
