WASHINGTON: The United States remains committed to supporting democracy in Pakistan but cannot dictate how it should conduct its elections, a State Department spokesperson said on Thursday.

During his daily news briefing, Matthew Miller was asked about the alleged government excesses against PTI leader Imran Khan, his party and its candidates.

The US official emphasised his government’s commitment “to supporting a democratic process” but refrained from commenting on specific issues.

“It is not for the United States to dictate to Pakistan the exact specifics of how it conducts its elections,” Mr Miller said, underscoring the US stance of non-interference in the internal affairs of the South Asian nation.

“Our interest is in the democratic process. We want to see free and fair elections conducted in accordance with Pakistan’s laws, and we don’t support one candidate or party over another in Pakistan or anywhere else in the world.”

However, the spokesperson emphasised that the US wants elections to be conducted in a “free, fair, and peaceful manner that includes freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and association, and ultimately a full, open, reliable, vibrant democratic process”.

He reiterated that decisions about Pakistan’s future leadership “rest with the Pakistani people” and emphasised the US’ commitment to respecting the sovereignty of nations in determining their political destinies.

Mr Miller’s comments have come amid growing concerns over the government’s actions against Mr Khan and his party’s candidates.

The State Department spokesperson also made similar remarks about the forthcoming elections in Bangladesh, urging the government in Dhaka to ensure the fairness of elections.

Published in Dawn, January 5th, 2024