WASHINGTON: The United States has made it clear that it stands for a free press, informed citizenry in Pakistan which are key for any nation and its democratic future.
In a press briefing, State Department Spokesperson Ned Price, when asked to comment on criminal cases being registered against CEO and owner of ARY News Salman Iqbal by Pak government with the help of some military officials to implicate him in murder of prominent journalist Arshad Sharif, said “we routinely raise our concerns about press freedom to all stakeholders around the world. We do that as a matter of course in Pakistan. We’ll continue to have those conversations with Pakistani authorities. A free press, informed citizenry – they’re key for any nation and its democratic future. It’s key in Pakistan; it’s key around the world.”
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When asked to comment on recent assassination attempt on Chairman PTI Imran Khan in Pakistan’s Wazirabad and his blaming of current Prime Minister Sharif and some intelligences agencies, the State Department spokesperson referred to the statement that Secretary Blinken issued last week and said “we continue to strongly condemn the shooting of Imran Khan. We offer our condolences to the family of the individual who was killed. We express our hope for a quick and thorough recovery of all who were injured, including Imran Khan.”
Ned Price recalled the statement of Secretary Blinken that violence had no place in politics, adding “we are concerned about what has happened in Pakistan in recent days. All parties should never resort to violence. They should express their disagreements peacefully, using – employing universal rights – freedom of expression, freedom of assembly – but violence is never the answer. We’re deeply committed to Pakistan, which has a long history of and democratic identity. We stand with the people of Pakistan.”
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