US is closely monitoring situation in Pakistan

Washington, Mar 16 (UNI) The US government said it was monitoring ''very closely'' the situation arising in Pakistan over President Pervez Musharraf's move in sacking country's Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.

''It is a matter of deep concern. And we believe that the resolution of this matter should take place in a way that is completely transparent and strictly in accordance with Pakistan's laws,'' State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said yesterday.

''It's essential for any developing democracy to adhere to the rule of law and conduct any investigations, any proceedings that may follow on from those investigations in a clear, aboveboard, transparent manner that strictly accords with Pakistan's laws,'' he added.

Asked whether the US had sent a formal complaint to the Pakistani Government and asked them for further information, McCormack said that ''it's not a matter of our complaining about it,'' and termed it an ''internal Pakistani matter.'' ''But clearly, it's something that in terms of Pakistan's functioning as a democratic state, that we would watch very closely and that would have initially deep concerns about what has taken place,'' Mr McCormack said.

''We have talked to them about it. I can't tell you at what level we have, but we have talked to them about it. I wouldn't use the word 'complaint' because I don't think it's appropriate in this particular case, but we have talked to them about it,'' he added.

UNI