The US Ambassador to Pakistan, Anne W Patterson has called on the PML (N) delegation and assured them that Washington would play its role in the return of exiled leaders including Nawaz Sharif if there are no cases against them.
Talking to newsmen after the meeting with the US envoy on Thursday, PML (N) Punjab chapter President Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa claimed that Anne Patterson assured that the US would play its role for the removing of hurdles in the return of the exiled leaders. He said they informed the US Ambassador that the government was creating hurdles in the return of Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif.
He said they made it clear on her that it would be difficult for the PML (N) to contests the upcoming elections if Nawaz Sharif was not allowed to return to the country. Zulfiqar Khosa pointed out that the US envoy told them that there was no role of the US in deal between President Pervez Musharraf and nor the US representative was present during the two leaders' meeting in Abu Dhabi.
He said they clarified on the US envoy that the holding of free and fair elections was not possible in the presence of the present government as it committed rigging in previous polls. He told Anne Patterson that there should be such caretaker government on which opposition parties agree for the holding of free and fair elections.
Zulfiqar Khosa said the US Ambassador told them that Washington also wanted free polls and democracy in Pakistan as it is not only interest of the US but of the whole region. He said that she noted that the US was co-operating with Pakistan Election Commission for the holding of free and fair elections and it would continue it.
He hoped the US would play its role for the restoration of democracy in Pakistan, adding the US envoy told Washington did not want to interfere in the internal affairs of Pakistan but wanted Islamabad should itself formulate internal and foreign policies.