US shows ‘concern’ over reports of intimidation, voter suppression in Pakistan

The United States is "concerned" over reports coming out of Pakistan in terms of intimidation and voter suppression and is watching the situation "very closely," Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council in the White House John Kirby said, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Friday.

Jailed former prime minister Imran Khan, who accused Washington of orchestrating ouster of his PTI government, on Thursday sought America’s help through a special message to the US that it should play a role and voice concern about his country's "rigged" general elections.

It was a purported diplomatic cable - the cipher - that Imran Khan, 71, had waived at a public rally in March 2022 claiming that the US wanted to oust his government, soon after which his political stars took a downhill journey leading to incarceration, conviction in multiple cases and even being disbarred from contesting the polls.

After a meeting of party leaders at the Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi on Thursday, where Imran Khan has been lodged since September last year, PTI leader Asad Qaiser conveyed a message from the former prime minister for the US, which was the highlight of Asad’s presser.

"Imran Khan has given a message that the US should raise its voice against the alleged rigging in elections. He also gave a special message with regard to America that the US had not played their role accordingly," Asad Qaiser said.

Claiming that Imran Khan's message is that "the US has an opportunity and should keep an eye on rigging in the elections," Asad Qaiser said, "If they are champions of democracy, then they should voice it if they think the elections in Pakistan were not fair."

PTI's counsel Barrister Saif, who also addressed the media with Asad Qaiser, said: "America should take a tougher stance over these elections." 

"When PTI was cornered in the elections, America should have raised its voice," said Saif quoting the party founder as saying.

The message was heard in Washington as hours later the White House responded. So far, the US State Department has been making statements on Pakistan elections, but this time a senior member of the Biden administration spoke.

Asked whether the US believes elections in Pakistan were not fair, John Kirby told a press briefing in Washington on Thursday: "We're concerned, and we share concerns about some of the reports that we've heard coming out of Pakistan in terms of intimidation, voter suppression, that kind of thing and so we are watching this very, very closely."

Kirby was also asked about the concerns raised by several US congressmen about the way polls were handled and what the White House believed that the Pakistani elections were not free and fair.

“And so, we are — we’re watching this very, very closely. And as I understand it, votes are still being tallied. So, international monitors are still taking a look at — at those tallies. I’m not — I’m not going to get ahead of that process,“ the US NSC spokesman added.

Earlier on Wednesday, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller called for an investigation into the rigging allegations in the Pakistan general elections held on February 8.
On being asked about the US lawmakers calling on the State Department not to accept the results of the Pakistan election until allegations of rigging are investigated, Miller said, "So we have called for those allegations to be investigated. We think that's appropriate step to take. That's our response to questions of irregularities not just in Pakistan, but when we see them anywhere in the world."
"We think that they're thoroughly investigated and resolved. And so that - we will continue to call for that. But at the same time, it's clear that the elections in Pakistan were competitive, and we look forward to working with the government, once it's formed, that the people of Pakistan elected," he added.
Earlier on February 9, US Congress lawmakers condemned the use of political violence, cell phone service shutdowns and restrictions on freedom of expression in the country.

Congresswoman Dina Titus condemned the use of political violence and the restriction on freedom of expression in Pakistan. She called free and fair elections the cornerstone of a functioning democracy.
In a post on X, Dina Titus stated, "Free and fair elections are the cornerstone of a functioning democracy. I condemn the use of political violence and the restriction on freedom of expression in Pakistan. I am closely monitoring the situation on the ground and urge officials to adhere to the rule of law."
Congressman Brad Sherman has said that press organisations in Pakistan should be free to report vote tabulations and stressed that there should not be delay in announcing the election results.
"Press organizations in #Pakistan should be free to report vote tabulations and there should be no unwarranted delay in announcing results," Brad Sherman posted on X.
Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib said democracy in Pakistan is at serious risk. She stated that people in Pakistan should be able to elect their leaders without interference and tampering with the process.
In a post on X, 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."
Congressman Greg Casar said that Pakistanis have the right to elect their leaders without cell phone service shutdowns and other authoritarian practices aimed to undermine poll results.
"Pakistanis have the right to elect their leaders without cell phone service shutdowns & other authoritarian practices aimed at undermining election results. The US must stand with the Pakistani people & make clear we will not support anyone working to undermine democracy," Greg Casar posted on X.
Provisional results by the Election Commission of Pakistan showed that independent candidates backed by PTI were leading the race for the National Assembly seats. Despite that, Imran Khan’s party believes polls were rigged and authorities tampered with the results.

But the government has denied such accusations and described the victory of PTI-backed independent candidates as proof of electoral transparency.

Moreover, caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar also shunned concerns raised by the Western states about polls.

On Thursday, Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that the electoral process in Pakistan was an internal sovereign affair.