Defense Minister Khawaja Asif criticized a resolution passed by the US House of Representatives, which called for an investigation into alleged voting irregularities in Pakistan’s February 8 general election. The election, which did not result in a clear majority for any single party, was marred by violence, communication blackouts, and allegations of rigging by Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has denied these allegations.
Khawaja Asif expressed strong opposition to the US House resolution, stating that it had no right to interfere in Pakistan’s internal affairs or pass any verdict on the matter. He dismissed the resolution as having “no value,” attributing it to political manoeuvring in the context of an election year in the United States.
In addition to calling for an independent investigation, the US House resolution condemned any effort to subvert the electoral process in Pakistan. Pakistan’s foreign office responded with a carefully worded statement, attributing the resolution to an incomplete understanding of the political situation and electoral process in Pakistan.
The resolution comes at a critical time for Pakistan, as it seeks support from Washington for a fresh bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to address its looming economic crisis. While some experts believe that the resolution may not significantly impact US policy towards Pakistan, it has raised concerns about potential follow-up legislation from the US due to bipartisan support for the resolution.
The resolution was welcomed by Imran Khan’s PTI, which was banned from contesting the elections. A senior aide to Khan expressed hope that other nations and leaders would follow the example set by the US House. Despite Khan’s party winning the most seats among independent candidates, they were unable to form a government, as an alliance of rivals led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took power. The contentious nature of the polls has led to numerous legal challenges.
