"Such [US] resolution neither constructive nor objective", says FO spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch       Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch briefing the press in Islamabad on May 18, 2023. — Screengrab via Ministry of Foreign Affairs Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office (FO) has said that the resolution passed by the United States House of Representatives on alleged poll irregularities in Pakistan’s nationwide general election 2024 “stems from an incomplete understanding of the political situation and electoral process in Pakistan”.

In response to media queries on Wednesday, the FO Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said, “Pakistan has taken note of the passage of the House Resolution 901 by the US House of Representatives on June 25. We believe that the timing and context of this particular resolution does not align well with the positive dynamics of our bilateral ties, and stems from an incomplete understanding of the political situation and electoral process in Pakistan.”

Pakistan, she said, believes in constructive dialogue and engagement based on mutual respect and understanding.

Responding to the allegations, the FO spokesperson said, “Pakistan, as the world’s second-largest parliamentary democracy and fifth-largest democracy overall, is committed to the values of constitutionalism, human rights and rule of law in pursuance of our own national interest.”

Such resolutions, she further said, are therefore neither constructive nor objective. “We hope that the US Congress will play a supportive role in strengthening Pakistan-US ties and focus on avenues of mutual collaboration that benefit both our peoples and countries,” Baloch concluded.

Earlier, the US House of Representatives expressed its support for democracy and human rights in Pakistan by a massive majority, approving the “House Resolution 901” which urged an impartial probe into the claims of irregularities during the February 8 general elections in the country. At least 368 members of the House voted in favour of the resolution and called for a “full and independent investigation of claims of interference or irregularities in Pakistan’s February 2024 election”. Around seven members have voted against it.

Through the resolution, the US lawmakers have emphasised the need for the Pakistani public’s participation in the country’s democratic process months after its general polls were contested as “rigged” and its outcome termed “delayed” by political parties now seated on the opposition benches in the legislature. It denounced “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 also condemned “any effort to subvert the political, electoral, or judicial processes of Pakistan”.

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif criticised the US House of Representatives resolution calling for a probe into alleged voting irregularities in the South Asian nation’s February general election. “They have no right to interfere in our internal affairs or give any sort of verdict on the matter,” Khawaja Asif told Geo News. He said the resolution had “no value” and was political posturing in an election year in the United States.

Speaking at a news conference, PTI Information Secretary Raoof Hasan Raoof said the US Congress resolution raised five serious questions pertaining to credibility and transparency of the general elections, which, he alleged, were the most rigged polls in the country’s history.

He pointed out that the resolution denounced harassment, intimidation, violence, arbitrary detention, and restrictions on internet access, as well as any violations of human, civil, or political rights.He recalled that all election monitoring bodies including Fafen, Patan, the Commonwealth, the European Union and the US Congress were unanimous on electoral rigging.

Raoof said no judicial notice had been taken of remarks made by Ahsan Iqbal and Rana Sanaullah that they would try to keep Imran Khan in jail. He claimed that the PTI founding chairman Imran Khan would soon be out of jail.