After former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan, a vocal opponent of the United States, won bail in a terror case brought against him for threatening Additional Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry at a public gathering, Washington said that it backed democratic ideals in Pakistan.
In a statement to reporters on Thursday, Vedant Patel, a spokeswoman for the State Department, said, “We welcome the peaceful preservation of democratic, constitutional, and legal norms.”A prosperous and democratic Pakistan has always been seen as crucial to US interests, and the US values our long-standing collaboration with Pakistan.
Khan was expelled in a legislative vote in April but intends to make a comeback in elections; the State Department spokesperson declined to comment more particularly on the accusations against Khan.Khan has organised rallies to criticise his successor, Shehbaz Sharif, and has claimed that the US is behind a plot to have him overthrown. Washington has repeatedly denied these claims as unfounded.
Imran Khan made an appearance before an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad on August 25. His request for bail was accepted by the court until September 1 in exchange for a $100,000 surety bond.Speaking to the media outside of court as he appeared before the ATC, he urged people “making and influencing” decisions to consider Pakistan.
