Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu pointed out voting discrepancies in the February 8 elections, affirming the U.S.’s dedication to bolstering democracy in Pakistan.
Today, Lu addresses a Congressional panel during a hearing focused on Pakistan’s democratic future and its relationship with the U.S.
The hearing, organized by the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee, features Lu as a principal witness.
Lu’s prepared remarks, shared online by the subcommittee, discuss bilateral concerns and the future of U.S. policies towards Pakistan. He highlighted the State Department’s critique following Pakistan’s elections, citing constraints on freedoms and electoral violence. Lu underscored the need for thorough investigations into electoral interference allegations. He detailed pre-election violence, harassment of journalists, and unfair treatment of certain political figures.
Lu noted that an esteemed local monitoring group reported being barred from observing vote counts in numerous districts. He also mentioned unauthorized election-day internet shutdowns, contrary to court orders.
However, Lu acknowledged positive election aspects, such as high voter turnout, significant female participation and diverse candidates. Lu emphasized the diverse political representation in the election outcomes.
Looking forward, Lu described Pakistan as a crucial ally, stressing the importance of democratic support, counter-terrorism cooperation, and human rights advocacy. He highlighted U.S. contributions to Pakistan’s economic stability, including infrastructure investments.
Lu mentioned U.S. support through development aid, private investments, and disaster relief while cautioning against Pakistan’s rising debt, partly due to borrowing from the PRC.
He advocated for economic reforms and private investment to foster growth without increasing debt.
