Imran urges US tough stance on ‘poll rigging’

Ex-PM expects stronger US voice regarding PTI's election exclusion

RAWALPINDI:

PTI founding chairman and former premier Imran Khan on Thursday demanded that the US should adopt a tough stance on “rigging” the recent general elections in Pakistan.

After meeting Imran in Adiala Jail, PTI leader Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, accompanied by former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser, told the media that the former premier had pushed the US to take a tougher stance on the recent general polls.

He further quoted Imran as saying that the manner in which the PTI was ousted from the polls, the US should be more vocal.

Barrister Saif said the PTI founding chairman was of the opinion that the US had supported the governments of dictators and corrupt people, but now it was presented with an opportunity to raise its voice on Pakistan’s election “rigging”.
The statement came a day after the US Department of State had said it is appropriate for the Pakistani state to investigate the allegations of rigging in the general elections.

|To a query, State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said the United States had called for those allegations to be investigated.
"We think that’s an appropriate step to take. That's our response to questions of irregularities not just in Pakistan, but when we see them anywhere in the world. We think that they're thoroughly investigated and resolved. And so that – we will continue to call for that.

"But at the same time, it's clear that the elections in Pakistan were competitive, and we look forward to working with the government, once it’s formed, that the people of Pakistan elected," he maintained.

To another query, Miller has called the efforts to form a coalition government in Pakistan “ultimately an internal matter”.
"You see this in a number of countries that have parliamentary system of government where no party has established a majority; you see the kind of coalition that is formed, ultimately that is not the decision for the US to make, it’s the decision for Pakistan to make," the department’s spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, speaking on the occasion, Qaiser, who won the election for NA-19 Swabi-I as a PTI-backed independent candidate, said they would not resign under any circumstances and sit in the assemblies. “We have expressed our concerns and will also protest, but sit in the assemblies as well,” he added.

The former NA speaker further said the US, which considered itself a champion of democracy, was silent on this matter.
He continued that the US’ ‘cosmetic’ statement on the elections in Pakistan was unacceptable.

Qaiser also demanded that the US should take a stricter stand against those who had “rigged” the recent polls.