Washington: Several members of the US Parliament have urged the Biden administration not to recognize the election results in Pakistan until the alleged irregularities are investigated.
According to the international news agency, in support of Pakistani democracy, the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Michael McCall, Ranking Member Gregory Max, Muslim Member Ilhan Omar, and many members of the Assembly, including the Muslim member, have expressed their concern over the election results in Pakistan.
The Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Michael McColl, has appealed to the Biden government and the Congress to consider the serious concerns of irregularities in the counting of votes and ballot tampering in view of the harsh statements of the members of the assembly regarding the election results in Pakistan.
Muslim Member of Parliament Ilhan Umar called on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to refrain from recognizing the election results pending a credible and independent investigation into several allegations of maladministration in Pakistan’s elections.
Rashida Talib, a female Muslim member of the assembly, said that we should stand with the people of Pakistan because their democracy is under serious threat. Pakistanis should have the full right to elect their own leaders without interference and tampering in the electoral process, and the United States should ensure that our tax dollars do not go to anyone who would harm them.
Female member Dina Titus, while condemning the use of violence and ban on freedom of expression in Pakistani politics, said that free and fair elections are the cornerstone of a functioning democracy. Suspicions and allegations related to the election results in Pakistan are closely monitored.
Similarly, Assembly Members Summer Lee and Susan Wilde also said that in this era of backward democracies, the United States should make it clear that we stand with the Pakistani people and silence their voices against state violence, targeted network closures and voter suppression. Will not be erased.
Congressman Greg Keyser said that he supports the call on the State Department to investigate election interference and fraud in Pakistan to not recognize the election results pending a credible and independent investigation into allegations of fraud.
Another American member of the assembly said that now is the time for the international community to stand by the side of the people of Pakistan. We cannot recognize the new government until it is clear that the government has been formed democratically.
It should be remembered that earlier, another senior member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Brad Sherman, said that he was concerned about the ban on media freedom in Pakistan, internet and mobile phone shutdowns including violent incidents and unnecessary delay in the announcement of results.
The spokesperson of the US State Department, Yedant Patel, also expressed deep concern over the incidents of harassment and violence against the candidates, including the ban on media and freedom of expression in the elections in Pakistan.
