Democratic Pakistan critical to US interests: White House

Democratic Pakistan critical to US interests: White House

Washington (Web Desk): White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki has said that a democratic Pakistan is critical to the interests of the United States.

Psaki’s comments came hours after Shehbaz Sharif took oath as the Prime Minister of Pakistan.

“We support the peaceful upholding of constitutional democratic principles, we don't support one political party over another,” Psaki said in a press conference.

The White House press secretary said the United States “certainly” supports the principles of rule of law and equal justice under the law.

Ex-prime minister Imran Khan repeatedly blamed the US for backing the no-confidence motion — that lead to his ouster early Sunday.

On Monday, the National Assembly (NA) on Monday elected Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President and joint opposition's candidate Mian Mohammad Shehbaz Sharif as the 23rd Prime Minister of Pakistan.

The newly elected premier received 174 votes against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) Shah Mahmood Qureshi who during the session, along with other PTI MNAs boycotted the election for the next prime minister of Pakistan.

The move came after Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who was the party's candidate for the top slot, announced that PTI lawmakers would be resigning en masse from the NA.