With the US reaffirming its relationships with Pakistan, a report on Monday pointed out that Pakistan's military has allegedly rigged the nation's elections yet again.
The report called for the US administration to reassess its policy towards Pakistan, citing the nation's "rigged, undemocratic elections," encouragement of Islamic terror groups, widespread corruption, and systemic persecution of ethnic and religious minorities.
The last year's February polls were manipulated by Pakistan's military establishment, observers, and international organizations have alleged. The outcome benefited the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) at the expense of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), US-based PJ Media reported.
"Rawalpindi Commissioner confessed to turning 13 losers into winners. He also implicated the chief of the Election Commission and the highest judge in the land as examples. Independent candidates in this election captured 103 (93 supported by PTI), PMLN captured 75, and PPP (Pakistan People's Party) captured 54 seats. Consequently, PMLN and PPP established a coalition government," wrote Turkey-born journalist Uzay Bulut.
Election thus kept Pakistan's current, military-backed regime at the helm. It was tainted with massive fraud that openly defied the evident will of people who had overwhelmingly voted for the party of incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan. It has also recently emerged that an international organization responsible for observing elections and democratic institutions, the Commonwealth of Nations, silently quashed a critical report of Pakistan's last year's February election," he added.
In February 2024, the Commonwealth Secretariat sent a 13-member Elections Observer Group (EOG) to Pakistan, as per routine monitoring protocols. Although the EOG initially issued a positive remark following the elections, its official report condemned government actions that infringed upon "fundamental political rights, including freedom of association, assembly, and expression."
Election manipulation seems to be an ongoing phenomenon in Pakistan. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan termed the 2018 elections as the "dirtiest and most micromanaged election in Pakistan's history." Violence, bombings, and abuse of government power also marred the 2013 elections, leading to boycotts by parties like the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan (JI).
Corruption seeps into every level of Pakistan's government and military. Pakistan has also been charged with backing terrorist organizations, giving secretive support to the Taliban. Relations with the US soured after Osama bin Laden was discovered living in Abbottabad in 2011. Radical Islamic forces continue to thrive in Pakistan, frequently allying with political parties.
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