‘Timely’ and ‘fair’ elections urged by US

Senior US diplomat Victoria Nuland spoke with Pakistani Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani and discussed the importance of “timely, free and fair elections” in the South Asian nation, the US State Department said in a Reuters report.

“Acting Deputy Secretary Nuland and Foreign Minister Jilani discussed the importance of timely, free and fair elections in a manner consistent with Pakistan’s laws and constitution,” the US State Department said in a statement.

A Pakistani appeals court suspended the corruption conviction and three-year prison term of Imran Khan in a legal victory for the hugely popular but embattled former prime minister, his lawyers and court officials said.

Hours after the announcement, the Islamabad High Court in a written verdict said it was granting bail to Khan on the completion of a surety bond of 100,000 Pakistani rupees ($328).

Khan, 70, will be able to run for office in elections currently set for November only if his conviction is set aside.