US favours a democratically-elected govt in Pakistan

Washington: The United States has said it favours a democratically-elected civilian government in Pakistan and noted it is for the people of the country to determine their future in a just and transparent manner. "Our view is that internal political issues in Pakistan need to be resolved by Pakistanis in a just and transparent manner that accords with the rule of law.

"We stand strongly in favour of a democratically-elected civilian government in Pakistan," the State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland told reporters on Tuesday at her daily news conference when asked about the current atmosphere of political instability in that country. "We're obviously not taking a position with regard to the march and all of those - the various issues - political issues that the marchers are out in the streets for," she said in response to a question.

"What we have said is, as we say around the world, we want to see any kind of demonstration remain peaceful and that the government protects the right of people to a peaceful protest and that the protesters remain peaceful in the way they approach things," Nuland said. "But with regard to the larger question of political future of Pakistan, that's an internal issue for Pakistanis to resolve, as long as it is resolved in a just and transparent manner that protects the constitution, protects the rule of law," the State Department spokesperson said. Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar who is in New York to attend a meeting of the UN Security Council met the US Ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice.

As a precautionary measure, Nuland said the US Embassy in Islamabad has been closed for public services on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. "The State Department refrained from making any comment on the order of the Pakistan Supreme Court to arrest the Prime Minister of the country...Our understanding is that this was rooted in a long case based on charges that were made some time ago. We are not in a position to evaluate the merits of the case one way or the other," Nuland added.