The United States House of Representatives has voted decisively in favor of an impartial investigation into allegations of election manipulation in Pakistan following the national polls on February 8. The resolution, HR901, was passed with a vote of 368-7, underscoring the importance of public participation in the democratic process in Pakistan.
Despite the February elections being largely peaceful, a nationwide mobile internet shutdown and delayed results led to accusations of vote rigging. These accusations were most prominently raised by former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), whose candidates had to run as independents after losing their party symbol, the cricket bat, due to a legal dispute over a flawed intra-party election as ruled by the election authority.
The resolution calls for a “full and independent investigation of claims of interference or irregularities in Pakistan’s February 2024 election.” It condemns attempts to suppress democratic participation in Pakistan through harassment, intimidation, violence, arbitrary detention, internet and telecommunications restrictions, or any violations of human, civil, or political rights.
The resolution concludes by urging the Pakistani government to uphold democratic and electoral institutions, human rights, and the rule of law, and to respect due process, freedom of the press, and freedom of assembly and speech. It also condemns any efforts to undermine Pakistan’s political, electoral, or judicial processes.
The vote’s margin was significant, with 85% of House members participating and 98% voting in favor, indicating strong bipartisan support for the investigation. Michael Kugelman, Director of the South Asia Institute at The Wilson Center in Washington, remarked on the vote’s significance, though he noted it may not significantly impact US policy towards Pakistan. He compared it to the Kerry-Lugar Bill passed by the US Congress in 2009, which authorized military aid for Pakistan but also marked the beginning of strained relations between Islamabad and Washington.
This resolution is the latest development in Pakistan’s ongoing political turmoil, and its impact on the country’s political landscape remains to be seen.
