On Tuesday, the US Congress voted to demand “full and independent investigation of claims of interference or irregularities” in elections held in February 2024 in Pakistan. The resolution also criticised “attempts to suppress the people of Pakistan’s participation in their democracy.
Also read: US Congress demands independent probe into Pakistan’s Feb 8 elections
The resolution endorsed the rigging allegations levelled by PTI founder Imran Khan as the US House resolution 901 was passed by a massive 368 against 7 votes, which makes 85% of the total American lawmakers in Congress.
Opposed by the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) that is supported by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in Pakistan’s lower house, the resolution says that the American Congress’ resolution was not based on facts as millions of Pakistanis participated in the general elections.
According to the resolution, Pakistan is a free and sovereign country and will not tolerate interference in its internal affairs.
In this resolution, the US House of Representatives had been asked to pay attention to human rights violations in Gaza and Occupied Kashmir.
Also read: Dar rubbishes US’s sanctions threat, says national interest to be preferred
The resolution also states that Pakistan-US relations should be based on mutual respect. During the approval of the resolution in the National Assembly, the Sunni Ittehad Council raised slogans and protested by tearing copies of the agenda.
Speaking on the resolution, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said that if terrorism occurs from Afghanistan, it will be answered. He further said, “We have the right to retaliate for the safety of the people and the country.”
On Thursday, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said that the government would bring a resolution against the resolution passed by the US congress demanding independent probe into Pakistan’s February 8 general elections.
Speaking during the National Assembly session, Dar said, “The Foreign Office had given its effective response to the resolution of the US House of Representatives, we have taken notice of the American resolution, we will definitely respond to it.”
In the session, Ishaq Dar also read out the notice taken by the Foreign Office on the resolution, and said, “The government will bring a resolution in response to the resolution of the US House of Representatives, the draft of which is ready.”
Responding to government’s policy on Israeli genocide in Gaza, the foreign minister said that Pakistan openly condemned Israeli atrocities, demanding the war against Palestinians should stop immediately. He added that it was not correct to say that the government had not raised its voice on the Palestine issue. The government also took action to remove Islamophobic content from social media, he maintained.
