ISLAMABAD: Far removed from the hype surrounding the first “anniversary” of May 9th violence, a senior American diplomat, Thursday, called on a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmaker—with both having reiterated to strengthen Pak-US relations.
It is the second meeting involving the American diplomats and PTI lawmakers in three days.
Christopher J Brown, the Deputy Political Counsellor of the United States Embassy in Islamabad, called on PTI leader Shibli Faraz, the Opposition Leader in Senate.
“In concluding, both reiterated their commitment to strengthening Pak-US relations and fostering mutual understanding for the prosperity and well-being of both nations,” a statement issued by the Senate Secretariat, after the meeting, said.
The meeting coincided with the observance of “black day” on Thursday by the federal government to commemorate the first anniversary of May 9th violence.
The Senate Secretariat’s press release on Brown-Faraz meeting said, the latter, during the meeting, called for “engaging with all stakeholders—dialogue with all stakeholders is the only solution.”
“There is need to promote a conducive environment for constructive discourse and progress,” he said, according to the statement.
The senator also stressed on the significance of “inclusive decision-making processes.”
Continuity of policies is essential for sustainable development, Faraz said.
He also emphasised on the urgency of implementing reforms across various sectors, with a particular focus on the power sector and state-owned enterprises, the statement quoted the senator as having said.
Earlier on Monday, the US Ambassador to Pakistan Donald Blome called on Opposition Leader in National Assembly and PTI Secretary-General Omar Ayub Khan – in the first ever official meeting by any top US diplomat with PTI leadership since ouster of Imran Khan as Prime Minister over two years ago.
Talking to journalists after the meeting, Ayub said that issues pertaining to the rule of law and the ongoing political crisis in Pakistan came under discussion but not Imran Khan’s release from jail.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2024