Violence has no place in politics and all disagreements should be solved peacefully, said the US State Department spokesperson on Tuesday and reiterated its condemnation of the shooting of former prime minister Imran Khan during the Azadi March in Wazirabad.

“We are concerned about what has happened in Pakistan in recent days. All parties should never resort to violence,” Ned Price in response to a query during the press briefing in Washington. “We call on all parties to refrain from violence, harassment, intimidation, and to respect the rule of law.”

Imran Khan, who has blamed a US conspiracy for being ousted from the government in April, was injured in an attempted assassination in Wazirabad on November 3.

“We continue to strongly condemn the shooting of Imran Khan,” Price said, expressing hope for the PTI chief’s quick recovery.

The spokesman added that the US stands with the people of Pakistan, a country with which it has had a long relationship. “We are deeply committed to a democratic and peaceful Pakistan,” he said.

To a question regarding journalist Arshad Sharif’s murder, the spokesman said that the US regularly raises concerns regarding freedom of speech across the world. “We’ll continue to have those conversations with Pakistani authorities.”