The United States on Friday night said it continued to work with Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani and believed he remained leader of the Pakistani democratic government, after a brief sentencing and conviction in a contempt of court case. “There was a court decision, he was given a 30 second sentence, I believe, and he remains the Prime Minister of Pakistan,” State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland said, responding to a question at the daily briefing.
She said, “And, as such, we continue to work with him (Prime Minister Gilani) and Ambassador Grossman did meet with him in Pakistan.” Marc Grossman, who is special US envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan, also met with President Asif Ali Zardari and Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar during his visit, aimed at repairing the strained ties between two countries and moving forward in the light of Pakistani parliamentary guidelines.