US urges Pakistan to investigate claims of 'irregularities' in Feb 8 election

The United States has urged Pakistani authorities to investigate the claims of 'irregularities and rigging in the February 8 polls through its legal system'.

During the daily briefing on Monday, a journalist asked US State Department’s spokesperson Matthew Miller about the demand for an independent probe raised by several US lawmakers.

“I don’t know what body are they proposing to conduct an independent investigation would be. Right now, it’s a matter of first course, legal system play itself out in Pakistan, that’s the appropriate first step to take, and we think that’s the step that should be taken,” he responded.

“If there are additional steps that ought to be entertained we are happy to look into that. Certainly, we want to see the freedom of assembly respected anywhere in the world.” he added.

In response to another related question, Miller said: “The claims of interference and fraud that we have seen raised and we want to ensure that these are fully investigated by Pakistan’s legal system. We will continue to monitor that in the days ahead.”

The US spokesperson also congratulated 'people of Pakistan for participating in the elections and poll workers, civil society, journalists, and election observers for their work to protect and uphold democratic and electoral institutions.

“We did express concerns publicly, we also expressed those concerns privately and joined the EU, the UK and other countries in doing so with some irregularities that we saw in the process,” he stressed while responding to a question about the US reaction to the alleged rigging.

“We emphasize that we want to see the rule of law, respect for constitution, free press, vibrant civil society respected in the run of the elections, and we continue to believe that is the case,” Miller added.

Reacting to the internet and cellphone shutdown during the Feb 8 elections, he said: “We condemn political and election-related violence and restrictions on internet and cell phone service; those negatively impacted the electoral service.” 

“The claims of interference and fraud that we have seen raised we want to ensure are fully investigated by Pakistan’s legal system,” the US official added.