US calls for probe into Pakistan election irregularities

The United States has said that Pakistan should hold an independent investigation into the claims of irregularities and rigging during the February 8 general elections through its legal system.

The inordinate delay in results after the polls raised doubts over elections’ transparency.

Moreover, several parties, including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), who secured most number of seat through their independent candidates, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), and others have alleged irregularities and rigging in the electoral process.

Others like Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN), and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), who failed to secure a simple majority in the elections, have already kicked off negotiations to form a collation government.

With this political instability, the US State Department’s spokesperson Matthew Miller, in his daily press briefing on Monday, said, “Right now we think it’s a matter of first course, the legal system play itself out in Pakistan, that’s the appropriate first step to take and we think that’s the step that should be taken.”

He mentioned that the US was willing to explore other options, with some US lawmakers urging the Biden administration not to recognize the results of the Feb 8 elections until the proposed probe is completed.

“If there are additional steps that ought to be entertained, we are happy to look into that,” Miller said. “Certainly, we want to see the freedom of assembly respected anywhere in the world.”

Miller congratulated the people of Pakistan for participating in the elections, as well as extended his praised to Pak­istani poll workers, civil society, journalists, and election observers for their work to protect and uphold democratic and electoral institutions.

 Apart from that, the US officials also acknowledged that suspension of internet and cellphone services on polling day, which had a negative impact on the process.

“We condemn political and election-related violence and restrictions on internet and cell phone service; those negatively impacted the electoral service,” he said.

“The claims of interference and fraud that we have seen raised we want to ensure are fully investigated by Pakistan’s legal system,” the US official added.

The US, he said, “continues to monitor the process in days ahead.”