A senior official from the United States Department of State has voiced concerns regarding “electoral abuse and violence” leading up to Pakistan’s general election last month.
During a hearing held by a subcommittee of the Committee on Foreign Affairs in the US House of Representatives, Donald Lu, the Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian affairs, highlighted various irregularities observed by the Biden administration during the February 8 elections.
Violence Prevention Laws (Credits: News Nation)
Lu emphasized instances of electoral abuses and violence in the weeks leading up to the polls, including attacks on police, politicians, and political gatherings by terrorist groups. He also noted the harassment and abuse of journalists, particularly female journalists, by political party supporters.
Lu mentioned that several political leaders faced disadvantages due to the inability to register specific candidates and political parties.
Furthermore, Lu stated that election monitors reported being barred from observing vote tabulation in more than half of the constituencies across the country on polling day.
He also highlighted the shutdown of mobile data services despite a high court order against interrupting internet services on election day.
Violence prevention protest (Credits: The American Conservative)
In response to questioning from US lawmakers, Lu confirmed that the US State Department had conducted its own investigation into the general elections and was taking actions, such as monitoring the process, to address poll irregularities.
During the hearing, allegations were raised regarding a purported warning the US State Department delivered to the then-Pakistani ambassador in Washington, suggesting that removing former Prime Minister Imran Khan from office would improve ties between Washington and Islamabad.
Lu categorically denied these allegations, describing them as a “conspiracy theory” and emphasizing that they were unfounded. The controversy surrounding the US’s alleged involvement in Khan’s ouster stemmed from Khan’s public claims and accusations.
However, the US has consistently denied any involvement in the parliamentary vote of no confidence, which led to Khan and his government’s removal from power in April 2022.
The hearing shed light on the complex dynamics between the US and Pakistan, particularly concerning allegations of electoral irregularities and political conspiracies.
