Washington: The United States has termed federal government’s move to ban the PTI a matter of “great concern”.
US Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller commented on the development in the State Department’s daily news briefing.
“Our understanding is this is the beginning of what will be a complex political process,” he said, “But certainly banning a political concern is something — or a political party is something that would be of great concern to us.”
Miller said the US supports “the peaceful upholding of constitutional and democratic principles, including respect for human rights and freedom of expression”.
He said the US supported democratic processes such as rule of and equal justice under the law, adding that Washington will continue to “monitor the — these decisions and further decision — any further decisions by the courts”.
Miller also discussed political violence, given the recent attempt on Republican Candidate Donald Trump’s life.
On Monday, the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif-led federal government announced that it has decided to ban the party and seek Article 6 proceedings against its founder Imran Khan, ex-president Dr Arif Alvi, and former National Assembly (NA) deputy speaker Qasim Suri.