On Monday, US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller clarified the United States’ position regarding Pakistan’s upcoming general elections. Mr. Miller emphasized that Washington does not endorse any specific political party in Pakistan and called upon Pakistan authorities to ensure the forthcoming elections are conducted freely and fairly.
Miller’s comments came after US Ambassador to Pakistan Donald Blome’s meeting with Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja on August 24. During this meeting, Ambassador Blome reiterated the United States’ commitment to supporting transparent and equitable elections in Pakistan.
Currently, Pakistan is on the path towards general elections, although there is a widespread expectation that the polls, initially scheduled for November, will be postponed to February or later. This delay is primarily due to the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) plan to redraw federal and provincial constituencies based on the latest digital census, with a target completion date of December 14.
The ECP has reassured all stakeholders that the elections will take place on schedule and has engaged in consultations with major political parties regarding the constituency redrawing. The election regulator has also pledged to conduct elections promptly following the conclusion of this exercise. Most political parties have expressed their support for the ECP’s decision to redraw constituencies, except for former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.
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PTI has criticized the election regulator’s delimitation timetable as “malicious” and a violation of the constitution. According to Pakistan’s constitution, national elections must occur within 90 days of the dissolution of the National Assembly.
During a recent briefing at the US State Department, Matthew Miller responded to a question regarding Ambassador Blome’s meeting with Commissioner Raja. He stated, “The United States does not take any position with regard to the outcome of an election in Pakistan. We do not support any particular political party or candidate in Pakistan. However, we strongly advocate for free and fair elections in Pakistan, as we do around the world.”
Independent analysts have raised concerns about the credibility of the upcoming elections, particularly since Imran Khan is currently facing corruption allegations that he believes are politically motivated. Khan has accused Pakistan’s influential military and the previous government led by former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of attempting to sideline him due to his growing popularity among the masses. Both the military and Sharif’s government have categorically denied these allegations.
There are growing concerns about the fairness, transparency, and freedom of the upcoming elections in Pakistan, particularly as the country grapples with an economic crisis. Pakistan’s national currency has significantly weakened against the US dollar, and its foreign reserves have dwindled. Protests have erupted across the country due to soaring utility bills and rampant inflation. This unrest coincides with Islamabad’s efforts to implement stringent conditions imposed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in exchange for a $3 billion bailout package approved in June.
In response to inquiries, Miller affirmed that the United States will continue to support economic reforms aimed at improving Pakistan’s economy. He stated, “I have previously emphasized our support for reforms that can enhance Pakistan’s economic situation, and we will maintain this stance.”
