US, EU, UK express concern over irregularities in Pakistan elections, urge for probe

The election results still remains indecisive as both, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s party and ex-prime minister Imran Khan declared victory.

The elections were held on 265 national assembly seats, and to gain simple majority to form the government a party has to secure 133 seats.

Till now, of 250 seats officially announced, Independents have 99 seats, PMLN has 71, PPP 53, MQM 17, PMLQ 3, IPP 2, JUI 2, MWM 1, BNP 1 and PMLZ has 1 seat and the results of 15 seats are awaited.

The United States and the European Union both made statements regarding allegations of interference, which included arrests of activists and said that claims of interference, fraud and irregularities should be fully investigated.

US says ‘undue restrictions on freedom of expression” during polls

The US State Department said Pakistan faced “undue restrictions on freedoms of expression” during the polls and also spoke about violence and attacks on media workers.

“We join credible international and local election observers in their assessment that these elections included undue restrictions on freedoms of expression, association, and peaceful assembly. We condemn electoral violence, restrictions on the exercise of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including attacks on media workers, and restrictions on access to the Internet and telecommunication services, and are concerned about allegations of interference in the electoral process. Claims of interference or fraud should be fully investigated,” said the United States, in a statement.