During a Congressional hearing in Washington on Wednesday, US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia, Donald Lu, stressed the importance of investigating allegations of interference or rigging in Pakistan’s recent general elections.
Speaking before a subcommittee of the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Lu highlighted the need for transparency and accountability in addressing claims of electoral irregularities.
Lu appeared before a subcommittee of the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs at a hearing titled ‘Pakistan After the Elections: Examining the Future of Democracy in Pakistan and the US-Pakistan Relationship’.
The US diplomat pointed out that thousands of petitions have been filed with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), underscoring the urgency for the ECP to hold those responsible for rigging accountable in a transparent manner.
He stressed that it is the responsibility of the ECP to ensure the integrity of the electoral process and uphold democratic principles.
Referring to past instances where the ECP has ordered re-elections for specific constituencies, Lu hinted at the possibility of re-elections if claims of poll irregularities are substantiated. He reiterated the importance of respecting the will of the Pakistani people in determining the outcome of elections.
“It will be an impediment to our relationship if Pakistan does not have a democratic process that upholds its own Constitution. It will retard our ability to have the type of relationship we want in security matters, on business fronts and people to people. All of that suffers if Pakistan is not a full democracy,” he maintained.
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Addressing allegations of a conspiracy involving cypher manipulation, Lu dismissed claims made by former prime minister Imran Khan, founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.
He stated that Pakistan’s former ambassador to the US, Asad Majeed, has confirmed the falsity of these allegations. Lu emphasized the US’s commitment to respecting Pakistan’s sovereignty and allowing its people to choose their leaders without external interference.
“These allegations… these conspiracy theories are a lie… it is not accurate. Then ambassador [Asad Majeed] has testified that there is no conspiracy… we respect the sovereignty of Pakistan… we respect the principle that Pakistani people should decide the leaders,” he maintained in a comment.
Highlighting the importance of the US-Pakistan relationship, Lu acknowledged Pakistan’s role in economic development and reiterated US support for Pakistan’s efforts to combat terrorism.
He expressed concern over terrorist attacks targeting political leaders and gatherings in Pakistan and emphasised the need for economic reforms in the country.
Lu also commented on the fluctuating relationship between Pakistan and Iran, emphasising US support for Pakistan’s economic stability.
Additionally, he revealed that an individual associated with the Indian government was implicated in a conspiracy to kill an American citizen within the United States, underscoring the complexities of regional dynamics.
