WASHINGTON - The United States supports democracy in Pakistan and wants to see its internal issues resolved in a just and transparent manner in accordance with the Constitution and the law, the State Department stated Tuesday.

Asked whether the US would welcome any change in Pakistan in view of the rally led by Minhajul Quran International chief Tahirul Qadri, spokesperson Victoria Nuland said, “That is not our view. Our view is that internal political issues in Pakistan need to be resolved by the Pakistanis in a just, transparent manner that accords with the rule of law. And we stand strongly in favour of a democratically elected civilian government of Pakistan as we have for a long time and we will continue to.”
Regarding the Supreme Court’s directive about arresting the incumbent PM, Pervaiz Ashraf, spokesperson said that “these issues have to be resolved among the Pakistanis in a democratic and transparent manner”. On the issue of Dr Tahirul Qadri leading a march in Islamabad, she said Washington was not taking a position on the cause of the marchers. “We want to see any kind of demonstration remain peaceful and the govt to protect the right of people to a peaceful protest and that the protestors remain peaceful,” Nuland said at the daily briefing.
With regard to the larger question of political future of Pakistan, she said that issue should be resolved by the people in a just and transparent manner that protects the Constitution. “That is an internal issue for Pakistanis to resolve, as long as it is resolved in a just and transparent manner that protects the Constitution, protects the rule of law. We have said consistently that we stand strongly in favour of a democratically elected civilian govt in Pakistan and we will continue to do so."
The US, the spokesperson said, had been in contact with Pakistan and US Ambassador to UN Susan Rice would meet Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar in New York.