Pakistan vows it’ll ‘uphold democratic values’ in polls

FO response comes as OHCHR raises concern about ‘PTI leaders’ harassment’

ISLAMABAD:

Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch on Wednesday maintained that Pakistan was determined to uphold fundamental freedoms for a democratic process, while responding to media queries about the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights’ (OHCHR) statement about today’s general elections in which it condemned the ‘harassment and detention of PTI leaders’ before the polls.

In her official statement, Mumtaz emphasised the country's unwavering commitment to promoting an "inclusive democratic process, upholding the rule of law, and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms guaranteed in its laws and Constitution".

The spokesperson maintained that comprehensive security plans had been finalised to ensure the smooth conduct of the general polls scheduled for February 8 or Thursday (today) "in accordance with Pakistan's electoral laws".
She affirmed the integrity of Pakistan's judicial system, highlighting its provision for "fair trial and due process".

Mumtaz underscored that "domestic legal remedies" were readily available to address any complaints that might arise during the electoral process.

The FO spokesperson's remarks came a day after the UN human rights body condemned the “harassment” as well as “detentions” of PTI leaders before the elections and appealed to the Pakistani authorities to ensure fully free and fair polls.

Liz Throssell, the spokesperson for the OHCHR, urged the country’s authorities to condemn all acts of violence against political parties and candidates while emphasising the need to uphold fundamental freedoms for a democratic process.

"In the lead-up to the vote, there have been no less than 24 reported instances in which armed groups have staged attacks against members of political parties," Throssell pointed out in a statement.

Read IHC bars police from harassing PTI candidates, workers

She acknowledged the challenges Pakistan had faced over the past 15 years in maintaining democratic gains amid security and economic hurdles.

Throssell emphasised the significance of elections as a moment to reaffirm the country's commitment to human rights and democracy, ensuring the right to participation for all citizens, including women and minorities.

"We are disturbed by the pattern of harassment, arrests, and prolonged detentions of leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and their supporters during the election period," Throssell continued.

She highlighted multiple legal cases against PTI founding chairman and former premier Imran Khan, which led to his disqualification as a candidate and sentencing him to long prison terms.

Throssell urged higher courts to carefully review these conclusions in line with due process and fair trial rights and Pakistan's international human rights obligations, emphasising the need for fair competition among all eligible parties.

The OHCHR also raised concerns about barriers faced by women and minority communities, particularly the Ahmadiyya community, in the election process. It pointed out that some parties appeared not to have met the legal quota of having 5% female candidates on their lists despite 22% of the seats in the National Assembly reserved seats for women.

Throssell observed that the separate voter lists for Ahmadis, exposing them to harassment and violence, was contrary to the equal rights guaranteed to minorities in Pakistan's Constitution.

The statement emphasised the importance of recommitting to the democratic process and creating an environment that promoted and protected a comprehensive range of rights, including economic, social, cultural, civil, and political rights, all of which were interconnected.