IANS | 12 Feb, 2024
Several US lawmakers, from both sides of the aisle, have urged the
Biden administration not to recognise election results of Pakistan until
alleged irregularities are investigated, media reported.
“Claims
of interference or fraud should be fully investigated,” the US State
Department’s spokesperson said in a statement on Friday, expressing
concerns about the allegations of interference in the electoral process.
“We
join credible international and local election observers in their
assessment that these elections included undue restrictions on freedom
of expression, association and peaceful assembly,” the statement said.
“Given
the recent strong statements by House Foreign Affairs Committee
Chairman Michael McCaul, Ranking Member Gregory Meeks and other
prominent lawmakers in support of Pakistani democracy, we urge the Biden
Administration and Congress to look into strong concerns of vote
counting irregularities and ballot tampering,” the committee’s chairman
stated, The News reported.
A senior member of the powerful House
Foreign Affairs Committee, Congressman Brad Sherman, said, “Press
organisations in Pakistan should be free to report vote tabulations and
there should be no unwarranted delay in announcing results.”
Along
with that Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib stated, “We must stand with the
Pakistani people as their democracy is at serious risk. They should be
able to elect their leaders without interference and tampering with the
process and the US must ensure our tax dollars don’t go to anyone
undermining that,” The News reported.
Congresswoman Dina Titus
said that she was closely monitoring the situation on the ground urging
officials to adhere to the rule of law. “Free and fair elections are the
cornerstone of a functioning democracy,” she stated, condemning the use
of political violence and restriction on freedoms of expression in
Pakistan.