Election integrity

The National Assembly has delivered a quick riposte to the US House of Representatives which adopted a resolution with an overwhelming majority this week calling into question the credibility of the Feb 8 elections in Pakistan and demanding a “full independent investigation.” A counter-resolution passed by the NA asserted Pakistan’s “sovereignty” and dismissed the Congressional move as “interference in Pakistan’s domestic affairs.” The opposition, however, did not support the motion because the Congress view perfectly aligns with its stance on the alleged vote fraud. Earlier, the Foreign Office also took exception to the Congressional resolution which, it stated, “stems from an inadequate and erroneous understanding of the political and electoral processes of Pakistan.”

The US house resolution also condemned “attempts to suppress the people of Pakistan’s participation in their democracy, including through harassment, intimidation, violence, arbitrary detention, restrictions on access to the Internet and telecommunications, or any violation of their human, civil, or political rights.” The resolution is non-binding, but the margin of vote is significant as 97% of the 85% Congressmen present voted in its favour.

While the Congressional “meddling in Pakistan’s internal affairs” may have shocked the government, the concerns it has raised about the election are not alien. Almost all opposition parties have alleged that the election was massively rigged. The poll monitor FAFEN has called for an independent audit and the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has raised serious issues on the integrity and credibility of the process. The US, UK and EU have also raised doubts on the credibility of the elections.

While the National Assembly’s resolution makes for good optics, dismissing widespread concerns on the election’s credibility would only hurt Pakistan’s democratic credentials globally, weaken public trust in democracy and democratic values locally, and further antagonise the embittered opposition calling for a vote audit. The government must assuage these concerns because only a truly representative government can take bitter decisions required to surmount the current economic challenges.