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US still believes May 2013 elections were free, fair
By Web Desk
Published: September 4, 2014
Jen Psaki, US State Department spokesperson. PHOTO: FILE
WASHINGTON: As Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan reiterated his belief that the May 2013 general elections were rigged on the 20th day of his protest in Islamabad, the US said their view of the elections had not changed.
US State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki, when asked during the daily briefing in Washington on Wednesday whether the US still views the May 2013 elections as largely free and fair, despite Khan’s recent allegations, she said that view had not changed.
“Nothing has changed in our view,” Psaki said of the May 2013 elections.
After the general elections, the US President and Secretary of State had congratulated the people of Pakistan on a successful election, which was considered as free and fair by the US administration at that point in time.
US embassy reopens
Psaki clarified that the US embassy in Islamabad was open and functional despite protesters protesters perched a few kilometers away near Pakistan Secretariat.
“As I understand in Pakistan, the protests have died down and things have calmed a bit in the streets”.
The Embassy had been closed and its staff, along with US citizens had been cautioned from moving around the capital.
The Foreign Office had on Tuesday said the government was taking all necessary precautions for the security of the foreign missions in Islamabad. However, it had cautioned staff of foreign embassies while moving around the city.
It, however, denied it had either received or issued advise to foreign missions to close.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/757650/us-still-believes-may-2013-elections-were-free-fair/
By Web Desk
Published: September 4, 2014

Jen Psaki, US State Department spokesperson. PHOTO: FILE
WASHINGTON: As Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan reiterated his belief that the May 2013 general elections were rigged on the 20th day of his protest in Islamabad, the US said their view of the elections had not changed.
US State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki, when asked during the daily briefing in Washington on Wednesday whether the US still views the May 2013 elections as largely free and fair, despite Khan’s recent allegations, she said that view had not changed.
“Nothing has changed in our view,” Psaki said of the May 2013 elections.
After the general elections, the US President and Secretary of State had congratulated the people of Pakistan on a successful election, which was considered as free and fair by the US administration at that point in time.
US embassy reopens
Psaki clarified that the US embassy in Islamabad was open and functional despite protesters protesters perched a few kilometers away near Pakistan Secretariat.
“As I understand in Pakistan, the protests have died down and things have calmed a bit in the streets”.
The Embassy had been closed and its staff, along with US citizens had been cautioned from moving around the capital.
The Foreign Office had on Tuesday said the government was taking all necessary precautions for the security of the foreign missions in Islamabad. However, it had cautioned staff of foreign embassies while moving around the city.
It, however, denied it had either received or issued advise to foreign missions to close.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/757650/us-still-believes-may-2013-elections-were-free-fair/