U.S. highlights irregularities in 2024 Pakistan general elections

U.S. expresses commitment to strengthening Pakistan's democracy and combating terrorism, amid allegations of vote rigging in recent elections.

The U.S. has highlighted irregularities in the February 8 general elections in Pakistan and expressed the U.S. commitment to strengthening the cash-strapped country's democratic institutions and cooperating to counter terrorist threats.

Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu, the diplomat whose supposed warning to former Pakistan Ambassador to the U.S. Asad Majeed was the subject of a cipher (secret diplomatic message) sent by the envoy to Islamabad, will on Wednesday be a key witness before a Congressional panel that has called a hearing titled ‘Pakistan After the Elections: Examining the Future of Democracy in Pakistan and the U.S.-Pakistan Relationship’.

The same diplomatic communication was later used by jailed former prime minister Imran Khan to allege a U.S. conspiracy to oust his government in 2022.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder is on trial for mishandling the same confidential document.

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In his written testimony uploaded on Tuesday, Mr. Lu raised several issues concerning the two countries and what lies ahead for U.S. policy in Pakistan.

He mentioned that the State Department had issued a clear statement a day after the general elections in Pakistan last month, noting undue restrictions on freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly.