‘No right to interfere’: Pakistan hits back at US over election scrutiny
Al Jazeera
US House resolution calls for inquiry into Pakistan’s February vote, which former PM Imran Khan’s party alleged was rigged against it.
Islamabad, Pakistan — Pakistan has accused the United States of attempting to “interfere” in its internal affairs hours after the US House of Representatives passed a resolution on Wednesday raising questions about the credibility of the South Asian nation’s general election in February.
The resolution called for a “full and independent” investigation into alleged irregularities in Pakistan’s election, which former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party alleged was manipulated to deny it victory.
Pakistan’s terse response underscored the niggles that afflict its relationship with the US, once its pre-eminent geopolitical partner, but is unlikely to upset recent attempts to steady ties, said analysts.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said on Wednesday Pakistan believes in “constructive dialogue” and engagement, but such resolutions are “neither constructive nor objective”.
“We believe that the timing and context of this particular resolution do not align well with the positive dynamics of our bilateral ties, and stem from an incomplete understanding of the political situation and electoral process in Pakistan,” Baloch added.
