Canada's foreign affairs minister on Friday urged Pakistan leaders to openly "work together" to form a government representative of the people who voted in its general election.
"Canada encourages Pakistan's political leaders to work together, in a democratic and transparent manner, to form a new government that represents the will of the Pakistani people as reflected in the electoral results," Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier said in a statement. "Canada looks forward to working with the new Pakistani government to further advance democratic development," he added.
Four Canadians had joined a team of international election observers who monitored polling stations around Pakistan for its parliamentary elections on February 18.
Bernier said Canada is "pleased" that the previously postponed elections were conducted peacefully, "and that Pakistanis turned out to vote despite concerns about security." "The people of Pakistan have taken an important step toward restoring democracy in their country," he commented.