British High Commissioner to Pakistan Jane Marriott met with Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja at his office in Islamabad on Wednesday and insisted on ‘transparent and inclusive’ elections in Pakistan, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
During the meeting, both the British diplomat and CEC Sikandar Sultan agreed that it was crucial to hold free, credible, transparent and inclusive elections according to the law.
In her post shared on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Ms Marriott wrote: “Important introductory meeting with Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja at @ECP_Paksitan today.
“We agreed that it’s crucial the country sees free, credible, transparent and inclusive elections in line with the law.”
https://twitter.com/JaneMarriottUK/status/1701866234860417075
The Election Commission of Pakistan has already held out the assurance that transparent polls would be conducted in the country ‘as soon as possible’ and level playing field would be provided to all political parties to take part in the democratic exercise.
This assurance came during the first consultative session, the CEC held with the political parties last month on the roadmap to elections.
US Ambassador to Pakistan Donald Blome also called on Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja in Islamabad on August 24 and extended Washington’s full support for free, fair and transparent elections in Pakistan.
However, commenting on the meeting between the US diplomat and the CEC, the US State Department said that it was not trying to influence the upcoming general elections in Pakistan as it had no political favourite.
Addressing his daily news briefing in Washington on Monday, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said that the US was not trying to influence the outcome of the expected elections in Pakistan as it did not support any party or candidate.
Miller offered this assurance while responding to a question from a journalist, who asked why an ambassador should meet the chief election official of a country.
US Ambassador Donald Blome had met Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja in Islamabad last month.
Miller responded: “I would refer you to the embassy for specific comments on that meeting, which, I am sure, they will be happy to provide. But I think I see where you are going with the question.”
He further said “So, I would reiterate what I have said a number of times, which is that the United States does not take any position with respect to the outcome of an election in Pakistan.”
The United States, he said, did not support any political party or candidate in Pakistan but “of course, we urge free and fair elections in Pakistan as we do throughout the world.”
It is pertinent to mention here that US Ambassador Donald Blome had assured Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja of his country’s support for conducting fair, free and transparent elections in Pakistan during their meeting held last month.
According to the statement released by the US Embassy, Blome had called on ECP chief Sikandar Sultan Raja in Islamabad to discuss important matters related to fair and free elections.
The US will help Islamabad in holding free and fair elections in accordance with Pakistan’s constitution and law, the statement read.
Blome had stressed that choosing Pakistan’s future leaders is the right of the people of the country and the US will continue to work with the elected representatives of Pakistan to deepen and expand bilateral relations.