WASHINGTON - The United States on Thursday stood solidly behind Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif as it urged Pakistani political parties to resolve their differences peacefully through dialogue, stating it remained opposed to any extra-constitutional change.
“Yes, we still do. He (Nawaz Sharif) is the elected leader, we have said that repeatedly,” State Department Deputy Spokesperson Marie Harf said, when asked at the daily Press briefing if US still supports Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
The spokesperson said the US has been carefully monitoring the demonstrations in Islamabad. “We have consistently said that the US encourages all the parties to work together to resolve their differences through dialogue. (We) also, though, oppose any efforts to impose extra-constitutional change to the democratic system,” Harf said, explaining the US position.
Responding to another question, the spokesperson expressed US endorsement of May 2013 election in Pakistan, saying, “we have said that Nawaz Sharif is the elected leader of Pakistan.”