US Congress Slams Pakistan, Launches Probe Into 'Rigged' General Elections

Islamabad: The United States Congress slammed Pakistan's general elections an  passed a resolution to launchd probe into the alleged irregularities in the conduct of the general polls. The US Congress passed "House Resolution 901," with a tally of 368 votes to 7 calling for a "full and independent investigation of claims of interference or irregularities in Pakistan’s February 2024 election."

The United States House of Representatives decisively voted to support an 'impartial' investigation into allegations of election manipulation in Pakistan following the national polls that were held on February 8.

It further condemned the “attempts to suppress the people of Pakistan’s participation in their democracy, including through harassment, intimidation, violence, arbitrary detention, restrictions on access to the Internet and telecommunications, or any violation of their human, civil, or political rights.”

Following the general polls, a  S state department official earlier said, “We condemn electoral violence, restrictions on the exercise of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including attacks on media workers, and restrictions on access to the Internet and telecommunication services, and are concerned about allegations of interference in the electoral process. Claims of interference or fraud should be fully investigated."

He further added that the US will persist in assisting Pakistan in bolstering its democratic establishments, by participating in the US-Pakistan Green Alliance Framework with expanding interpersonal connections and advocating for human rights.

PTI Welcomes US' Move

Jailed Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) praised the United States Congress for launching an investigation into the alleged irregularities in the conduct of the 2024 Pakistan general elections

Taking to X, PTI in the US on its X handle said, "House Resolution 901, calling for democracy and human rights in Pakistan, has been passed by the US House of Representatives by 368 votes to 7."

Pakistan's Rigged Elections

In the February elections, despite winning the greatest number of seats, Khan's PTI refused to form a coalition with either the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) or Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), which won 75 and 54 seats respectively.

Subsequently, the PMLN and the PPP decided to join hands together to ally with smaller parties to create the ruling government, a near-repeat of the coalition they forged in April 2022, when PTI and then-PM Imran Khan were removed from the power through a parliamentary 'vote of no confidence.'

(With inputs from agencies)