LAHORE MIRROR — Amidst the developing situation in Pakistan ahead of the upcoming elections, the United States has expressed its concern regarding the potential for election-related violence in light of former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s disqualification for five years by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
In an official statement on Wednesday, White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby stated, “We are closely monitoring actions, especially those of a violent nature, that could contribute to instability within Pakistan or any other nation where we share common counterterrorism interests.”
Responding to inquiries from reporters, Kirby acknowledged the question of whether extremist groups were capitalizing on the political upheaval in the fifth-most populous country as it approaches its electoral process.
As part of the unfolding events, the National Assembly is scheduled for dissolution on Wednesday, with an interim government designated to oversee the upcoming elections.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, who was removed from his prime ministerial position through a parliamentary vote in the prior year, is currently serving a three-year prison sentence on corruption charges.
The United States has exercised caution in its commentary on Khan and the forthcoming elections, aiming to avoid fueling unfounded conspiracy theories. Khan, a vocal critic of US military operations, has alleged the involvement of a senior US official in his ousting—an assertion that Washington vehemently denies.
On Tuesday, Matthew Miller, a spokesperson for the US State Department, asserted that Khan’s arrest is an internal matter for Pakistan. He emphasized the consistent US stance in promoting democratic principles, human rights, and the rule of law, both within Pakistan and across the globe.
