Roving Periscope: Pakistan rejects US allegations of ‘poll rigging’
Virendra Pandit
New Delhi: Jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan has urged the IMF not to sanction any loans to Pakistan without an audit of the just-concluded parliamentary elections. And US lawmakers have requested President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken to refrain from recognizing the Shehbaz Sharif-led coalition government set to be formed soon until allegations of election rigging are thoroughly investigated.
Reacting to the US lawmakers’ move, Pakistan has dismissed their suggestion to probe electoral discrepancies, emphasizing that it will not succumb to external dictates, the media reported on Saturday.
Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch categorically stated that no country can give directions to Pakistan, which is an independent and sovereign country.
“We believe in our own sovereign right to make decisions about Pakistan’s internal affairs,” she said while replying to the comments made by her US counterpart regarding allegations of misconduct in the February 8 elections.
Earlier this week, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said any claims of interference or fraud in elections “should be fully and transparently investigated by Pakistan’s laws and procedures.”
“Concerning investigations into reported irregularities, we want to see those investigations proceed … (and) wrapped up as soon as possible.”
The comments were prompted by accusations — particularly made by Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI)-backed candidates — of tampering with and manipulation of election results announced after an unprecedented delay by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
The ECP and the caretaker government strongly refuted the accusations, urging political parties to pursue legal remedies for their complaints through courts and other appropriate channels.
In a letter, nearly 35 US Congress members, led by Democratic Party’s Gregorio Casar, also urged President Biden and Secretary of State Blinken to not acknowledge the new government in Islamabad being formed soon.
Baloch said, “This is a communication between public officials in the US and is not addressed to the government of Pakistan. We therefore have no comments to offer on such letters.”
She said Pakistan is a “dynamic democracy” and possesses the necessary domestic frameworks to address any issues related to elections or democratic processes. She also refrained from commenting on a PTI’s letter to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to link any future financial support with the audit of the election.
“As you know, the prime minister has made a statement on this matter. The Ministry of Finance takes the lead on IMF-related issues, so they will be in a better position to comment on this subject.”
The US lawmakers, all Democrats like President Biden, expressed concerns about pre- and post-poll rigging in Pakistan’s recent parliamentary elections. They also called for a transparent and credible investigation before recognizing a new Pakistani government, citing evidence of violations and disruptions on election day.
These signatories are pivotal progressive Democrats essential for securing President Biden’s second term. In the recent Michigan primary, he faced a formidable “uncommitted” campaign led by activists dissatisfied with his Gaza war stance, surpassing Trump’s 2016 margin by over 10,000 votes.
This development is causing considerable concern for the Biden camp, especially as influential Muslim lawmakers in Michigan have also endorsed the pro-PTI letter. They include Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, and also Andre Carson.
The lawmakers also called for the State Department to gather information about detained political activists and media personnel in Pakistan and advocate for their release.
They emphasized the significance of conveying to Pakistani authorities that US law mandates accountability for acts violating human rights, undermining democracy, or fostering corruption.
The lawmakers underlined concerns about post-poll rigging, citing delays in reporting results, video evidence of abuses, and discrepancies in vote totals. They referenced reports by nonpartisan observers, which highlighted the necessity of a transparent and credible audit process before acknowledging a new Pakistani government.
The dispute centers around discrepancies between polling center results issued to candidates and the final constituency-wide tally. The lawmakers noted that they respected election monitors and human rights organizations.
The lawmakers argued that safeguarding democracy in Pakistan and ensuring that election results genuinely reflect the interests of the people, rather than the elite and military, aligns with US interests.
They stressed the importance of a comprehensive investigation and adherence to democratic principles.
