US Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu firmly dismissed former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s cipher accusations as unfounded.
Before a US panel subcommittee, Lu characterized Khan’s claims as false. “These allegations are baseless,” Lu asserted, emphasizing the lack of evidence implicating the US or himself in actions against Khan. The then-Pakistani Ambassador to the US, Asad Majeed, also denied any conspiracy in his testimony to Pakistan’s government.
During a hearing focused on democracy in Pakistan and its relations with the US, Lu addressed these allegations. He highlighted Majeed’s confirmation of no conspiracy, reinforcing the US’s respect for Pakistan’s sovereignty and democratic processes.
Addressing electoral concerns, Lu expressed the US’s worry over reported abuses and violence before the February 8 Pakistan general elections. He detailed incidents of violence, journalist harassment, and registration challenges facing political leaders. Lu noted that over 60 million Pakistanis, including more than 21 million women, voted despite these obstacles, increasing female parliamentary representation.
Lu praised the participation of diverse candidates and the oversight by over 5,000 election observers. Their findings acknowledged some irregularities but affirmed the elections’ overall integrity. Lu mentioned that the US calls for transparency and accountability in addressing these issues, referring to the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) review of election complaints.
Read: Donald Lu Highlights Election Flaws in Pakistan, Vows to Strengthen Democracy
It’s important to note that Imran Khan accused the US of intervening in Pakistan’s politics, a claim the US has consistently denied. Khan’s administration ended in April 2022 with a historic no-confidence vote, a decision the US asserts was not influenced by its actions.
