Pakistan dismisses US’ poll ‘rigging’ concerns, says Washington ‘misunderstands’ Islamabad’s political situation

Pakistan, earlier this month, was finally able to form a government after days of negotiations among the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). Meanwhile, former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) who continues to be in jail, alleged that the Feb elections were rigged.

Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, the spokeswoman for Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, said the warning from US Diplomat Donald Lu, “reflects a misunderstanding of Pakistan’s political situation and electoral laws”.

“We hope to engage in political discussion with the United States to address misunderstandings so that our two countries continue to move forward for regional cooperation,” she told reporters in the capital, Islamabad.

‘Seventy-six years of ties will be impended’

Lu on Wednesday said that the United States had “serious concerns” about the conduct of the February 8 election.

The diplomat also highlighted the prolonged suspension of X and the ongoing disruptions in media and social media in the country and called for a probe.

“The Election Commission of Pakistan, should it find that these irregularities are substantiated, should rerun elections where there’s been interference,” Lu told a hearing of a House Foreign Affairs subcommittee.

“We have enjoyed 76 years of partnership with this country. It will be an impediment to our relationship if Pakistan does not have a democratic process that upholds its own constitution,” Lu added.

With inputs from AFP