WASHINGTON, Jan 23: The majority leader in the US Senate has urged the Bush administration to suspend financial aid to Pakistan if the Feb 18 elections are rigged.

Senator Harry Reid, a Democrat, also observed that it was President Pervez Musharraf’s responsibility to ensure that the elections were fair and free.

Mr Reid made these observations after a meeting with Tehrik-i-Insaf leader Imran Khan who is visiting the US capital to persuade the Americans to back the democratic process in Pakistan.

“I believe that the United States needs to look closely at the assistance we send to Pakistan. If President Musharraf does not allow full and free elections and does not restore freedoms, we need to consider reducing non-development aid to Pakistan,” the senator said.

Senator Reid recently sent a letter to President Bush, urging him to consider cutting off aid to Pakistan unless President Musharraf reinstated the previous Supreme Court and restored all freedoms.