The United States urges a probe into purported election irregularities in Pakistan

The United States administration has once again emphasized the need for investigations into alleged irregularities surrounding the elections in Pakistan. During a press briefing on Wednesday, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller stated, “We have called for those allegations to be investigated. We think that’s an appropriate step to take. That’s our response to questions of irregularities not just in Pakistan, but wherever we see them in the world.”

Following the February 8 elections, the United States, along with the European Union and the United Kingdom, expressed concerns over allegations of interference in the electoral process. Australia also raised worries regarding the limited choices available to Pakistani voters.

This week, the US administration urged Pakistan to respect the electoral will. Elections were conducted for 265 seats in the national assembly, with a political party needing 134 seats for a simple majority.

Responding to questions about pressure from some US lawmakers urging the State Department not to accept the election results until allegations of rigging are thoroughly investigated, Miller stated, “We believe that they should be thoroughly investigated and resolved. We will continue to call for that. However, it’s evident that the elections in Pakistan were competitive, and we anticipate collaborating with the government elected by the Pakistani people once it is formed.”

Regarding how Pakistan forms the government without independent candidates backed by Imran Khan’s party, Miller remarked, “That is ultimately an internal matter. You see similar situations in other countries with parliamentary systems of government, where coalitions are formed when no single party establishes a majority. Ultimately, it’s not a decision for the United States to make, but for Pakistan.”