Pakistan held general elections on February 8 when most of the seats were grabbed by the independent candidates backed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) that was founded by former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
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Following the election results, Imran Khan, who is in jail since last August, alleged rigging in the elections.
The rigging allegations levelled by Imran Khan have now been endorsed by the US House resolution 901 passed by a massive 368 against 7 votes on Tuesday, which makes 85% of the total American lawmakers in Congress.
The resolution also criticised “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.”
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The rigging probe demand is also justified due to various factors. The administration had snapped the internet on the polling day while there was a delay in results, triggering widespread allegations of rigging.
Moreover, the US lawmakers condemned any “effort to subvert the political, electoral, or judicial processes of Pakistan.”
Following the passage of the resolution, Asif Mahmood, an influential American of Pakistani descent, said: “Voices got louder on Capitol Hill today when #HR901 was voted and almost unanimously passed.”
“Democracy can only prevail when there’s free and fair elections, watched and verified by credible observers. None of this happened in Pakistan in Feb elections,” he posted on X. “Mandate should go only to the leaders who were truly voted by people.”
Also after by-elections, the PTI had announced countrywide protests against alleged rigging in the February 21 by-elections.
The announcement was made by Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub. He said that it was extremely regrettable that on April 21, the nation was hoodwinked in the name of by-elections.
He said that it was complete wastage of public tax money. Omar Ayub said that mobile and internet services had been suspended 24 hours ahead of the by-polls. “The government of Form 47 does not want transparency,” he said.
He pointed out that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif got less votes and the candidate contesting in his place got more votes.
Likewise, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Maulana Fazlur Rehman announced that his party would launch a movement against the current system and poll rigging.
Commenting on the development, Michael Kugelman, Director of South Asia Institute at The Wilson Center in Washington, said the margin of vote was significant.
“85 percent of House members voted on it, and 98 percent voted in favor of the resolution,” he noted in a social media post. “This is quite significant.”
