US, UK, and EU Call for Investigation into Pakistan Election, Voice Concerns

By Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON – The United States, Britain, and the European Union have all expressed concerns regarding Pakistan’s electoral process following Thursday’s vote, calling for an investigation into the reported irregularities.

The primary contest was between the party of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and candidates backed by ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan, with both factions claiming victory. Elections were conducted for 265 seats in the National Assembly, where a party needs 133 seats to secure a simple majority.

Both the U.S. and EU highlighted allegations of interference, including the arrests of activists, and emphasized that claims of irregularities, interference, and fraud warrant thorough investigation.

Currently, Khan is incarcerated, and his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has been barred from participating in the elections. Independent candidates, many aligned with Khan, have secured the majority of seats, winning 98 out of the 245 counted, while Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) captured 69 seats.

Khan has accused the military of orchestrating a campaign to eliminate his party, while analysts and opponents suggest that Sharif is receiving support from military leaders.

The EU’s statement highlighted a "lack of a level playing field," citing the inability of some political figures to contest the elections and restrictions on assembly, expression, and access to information.

The U.S. State Department noted "undue restrictions" on freedoms of expression and assembly, as well as incidents of violence and attacks against media personnel. Several U.S. lawmakers, including Democratic Representatives Ro Khanna and Ilhan Omar, have voiced their concerns, with Khanna asserting that the military is tampering with the election results. Both lawmakers urged the State Department to withhold recognition of any winner until a thorough investigation into the allegations is completed.

Michael Kugelman, director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center, described the EU and U.S. responses as "relatively mild," considering the extent of reported electoral manipulation.

Earlier in the week, the U.N. human rights office condemned the violence experienced by political parties and candidates, raising alarms over a "pattern of harassment, arrests, and prolonged detentions" of leaders and supporters from Khan’s party.

The EU, U.S., and Britain indicated that they would engage with the forthcoming government but refrained from congratulating any candidates or parties. British Foreign Minister David Cameron acknowledged "serious concerns about the fairness and inclusivity of the elections."

Khan is currently facing multiple legal challenges that have resulted in his disqualification from candidacy and lengthy prison sentences, all of which he denies. He was removed from office in 2022 following a rift with the country’s influential military, which maintains it does not interfere in political affairs. Khan’s party previously triumphed in the national elections of 2018.