The United States has expressed concern over violence and condemned terrorists for targeting politicians and their supporters during election campaign in Pakistan.
The US also condemned the recent statements by terrorist groups indicating their intent to disrupt Pakistan’s democratic process.
Replying to questions during briefing on Tuesday, Acting State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell said the US supported the right of the Pakistanis to participate in the polls to fulfill their aspirations for a peaceful, prosperous, and democratic nation.
He said the US looks forward to witnessing timely, transparent, free, and fair elections on May 11. These elections will mark an important democratic transition, a historic development of which the people of Pakistan can be very proud. He made it clear that they do not support any particular party or any individual candidate, and look forward to engaging the next democratically elected government.
Asked about the spike in the violence in the last few weeks, and whether people can go out without any fear and vote, Ventrell said the US in addition to condemning the violence surrounding the elections also urged the Pakistanis to go out and vote and express their free will so that democracy can prevail and the people’s voice can be heard.
“We’re concerned about the violence but we urge the electoral process to continue” he remarked.
About return of former president Pervez Musharraf and cases against him, he said, “We haven’t taken a position on Musharraf’s return to Pakistan.”
