US says it is monitoring election process in Pakistan quite closely

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: The United States of America is closely monitoring Pakistan’s election process, an official of the US State Department has said, observing that Washington has concerns over the infringement with respect for freedom of expression, assembly, and associations, on Tuesday.

Speaking at his regular press briefing in Washington on Monday, State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said that the US wants the broad participation of the people of Pakistan in the country’s elections.

“We’re continuing to monitor Pakistan’s electoral process quite closely, and as we have said, we want to see that process take place in a way that facilitates broad participation with respect for freedom of expression, assembly, and associations,” Patel said.

Vedant Patel was responding to a question on the upcoming polls during a routine press briefing. Patel was asked for the US stance on the February 8 general elections amid the imprisonment of former prime minister Imran Khan and the banning of his political party symbol.

“We’re continuing to monitor Pakistan’s electoral process quite closely, and as we have said, we want to see that process take place in a way that facilitates broad participation with respect for freedom of expression, assembly, and associations,” he said.

“We have concerns of the – all incidents of violence and restrictions on media freedom; freedom of expression, including internet freedom; and peaceful and – peaceful assembly and association. We’re concerned by some of the infringements that we’ve seen in that space,” he added.

Patel stressed that Pakistanis deserve free and fair elections. “Pakistanis deserve to exercise their fundamental right to choose their future leaders through free and fair elections without fear, violence, or intimidation, and it is ultimately for the people of Pakistan to decide their political future,” he added.