U.S. hopes for speedy and lawful resolution of political crisis in Pak

Washington, June 20 (ANI): The United States has expressed hope that Pakistan's latest political crisis would be resolved in accordance with the country's constitution amid a showdown between the judiciary and government.

"We have said all along that we expect that Pakistan will resolve any of these internal issues in a just and transparent manner in accordance with Pakistan's own laws and constitution," The Express Tribune quoted U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland, as saying.

"Our understanding is that the Pakistani government itself is meeting now to decide how it goes forward from here," she added.

The Supreme Court disqualified Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani from office on Tuesday in a ruling that dissolved the cabinet and threatened to trigger elections later this year. Despite the uncertainty, Nuland said working relationship with Pakistan would go ahead.

"Throughout this process, which has been going on for a number of months now, we have continued to work with the Pakistani government and try to get through some of these issues that have been difficult," said Nuland, referring to disputes including a Pakistani blockade on NATO supply convoys into Afghanistan.

"So it is our hope and expectation that we'll be able to continue to do that, but they obviously have to work their internal issues internally," she added.

Relations between Pakistan and the U.S. have come under severe strain over the past year, following a unilateral U.S. raid that killed Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden, and a deadly U.S. air strike that left 24 Pakistani soldiers dead last November. (ANI)