ISLAMABAD, March 18: US Ambassador Anne W. Patterson on Tuesday called on Supreme Court Bar Association president Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan at the latter’s residence to reiterate the US position on judicial issue, suggesting independent judiciary was a crucial pillar of Pakistan’s democracy.

“Issues involving Pakistan’s judiciary are matters for Pakistanis to decide,” the envoy emphasised during her 75-minute meeting, and expressed the US desire to continue working with Pakistan “to encourage Pakistan’s continued democratic development.”

Advocate Gohar Ali Khan, an associate of Aitzaz Ahsan, told Dawn that the ambassador also felicitated Barrister Ahsan on his release after four months detention inside his home.

The meeting also discussed the ongoing judicial issue, especially in relation with the restoration of the deposed judges.

Ms Patterson said the US had already provided more than $28 million in bilateral and multilateral programme assistance to the people of Pakistan for voter education, political party development, computerisation of the voting rolls, training of political poll watchers and domestic and international election observation missions.