Ahead of general elections in Pakistan, US
have asserted it plays no role in “choosing” the leaders of the country and deals
with elected leaders and the government.
“United States does not play any role in
choosing the leaders of Pakistan,” said Department of States spokesperson Matthew
Miller.
Miller was answering a pointed question by
an American Pakistani journalist, who blamed US of bringing “this old corrupt
criminal leader” – referring to former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif – back into
Pakistan, and said US “at least condemn the corrupt politicians.”
Referring to multiple reports published
by a newspaper in Pakistan, the journalist stated, “In Pakistan, The Frontier
Post had published stories about Nawaz Sharif, three-time PM, taking money from
Osama bin Laden to disrupt the Benazir Government. The story was not condemned.”
“Taking State lands – the story was not
condemned or challenged in any court. Sending money internationally, basically
financial money laundering thing – the story was never challenged,” he went on
to list the instances.
“At least condemn that, okay, US had no
role in (cricketer turned politician, former Pakistan prime minister) Imran
Khan’s removal, but at least say something about that a Panama Paper convict
has come back to Pakistan,” he continued to list and then said, “American –
Pakistani Americans – are upset at (US President Joe) Biden for being silent
about it. They feel like you have brought this old corrupt criminal leader back
into Pakistan, and are – he’s coming back to – so at least condemn the corrupt
politicians,” the journalist said.
After maintaining that United States “does
not play any role in choosing the leaders of Pakistan,” Miller added, “We
engage with the leadership shown by – or the leadership decided by the
Pakistani people, and we will continue to engage with the Pakistan Government on
all these issues.”
Pakistan is headed to the general
elections scheduled to be held on February 8. After ending his self-imposed
four-year exile in London, Sharif returned to Pakistan on October 21 and has
been getting clean chits in case after case that was pending for many years.
On the other hand, Khan has been
incarcerated in multiple cases since August this year and has been facing adverse
decisions/judgments from various courts in Pakistan.
Sharif’s political opponents have
claimed that he has been allowed to enter Pakistan after an arrangement with
the top Army brass.
PTI
