Donald Lu, the infamous Assistant Secretary of State for the United States, who became a household name in Pakistan for his Cipher role, has submitted a written testimony to the US Congress, addressing concerns regarding the general elections in Pakistan. While acknowledging that the elections appeared to be conducted according to the law, he highlighted significant ‘irregularities’ in the compilation of results.
It is learned the testimony precedes his scheduled appearance before the Congress Foreign Affairs subcommittee later today.
In the four-page document uploaded to the Foreign Affairs Committee’s website, the US official cited numerous irregularities observed during the election process.
Specifically, he expressed concern over electoral abuses and instances of violence in the weeks leading up to the elections. He noted terrorist attacks targeting police, politicians, and political gatherings, as well as harassment of journalists by party supporters.
Furthermore, the Secretary mentioned difficulties faced by many political leaders in registering parties and candidates, indicating broader challenges to political participation.
On the day of the polls, irregularities persisted, with international observers unable to witness counting in half of the country’s constituencies. Additionally, the shutdown of mobile internet services on election day further raised concerns.
Despite these issues, the testimony acknowledged the participation of over 60 million voters who were presented with a variety of choices. It also highlighted the formation of governments by three different parties in Pakistan.
Emphasizing Pakistan’s importance as a partner to the US, the Assistant Secretary reiterated shared goals in combating terrorism. He stressed the importance of a peaceful, democratic, and prosperous Pakistan, affirming ongoing efforts to support this vision.
