U.S. urges restraint in Pakistani protests
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 1 September 2014 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, U.S. urges restraint in Pakistani protests, 1 September 2014, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/542ac6e611.html [accessed 1 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
September 01, 2014
The United States has called for restraint in the Pakistani political crisis and urged protesters not to resort to violence in its antigovernment demonstrations.
State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki (eds: a woman) said Washington calls on "all sides to refrain from violence...and respect the rule of law."
She said people have a right to demonstrate peacefully but that they cannot impose "extraconstitutional change to the political system" through violence.
Led by opposition leaders Imran Khan and populist cleric Tahir ul-Qadri, protesters have been camped out in the capital, Islamabad, since August 15 demanding that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif resign.
They accuse him of rigging the 2013 parliamentary elections that brought him to power.
Sharif has refused to resign.
Three people were killed overnight on August 30-31 when protesters tried to storm Sharif's house.
Based on the U.S. State Department and reporting by Reuters
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
