Washington, 15 March, 2024 (GNP): Donald Lu, the Assistant Secretary of the US Department of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, has been summoned to testify about the fairness of Pakistan’s recent general elections before a congressional panel on March 20.
Lu’s testimony is significant due to accusations from former Prime Minister Imran Khan regarding his alleged involvement in the toppling of Khan’s government in 2022.
The hearing, titled “Pakistan After the Elections: Examining the Future of Democracy in Pakistan and the US-Pakistan Relationship,” will be conducted by the subcommittee on the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia.
State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller emphasized the department’s commitment to assisting Congress in its policymaking and oversight roles, expressing readiness for both informal discussions and formal testimonies.
Read More: India implements Citizenship Amendment Act amidst outcry
Miller said, “We see it as an important part of our jobs to help Congress do its job, both from a policymaking perspective and from an oversight perspective,”
The hearing follows allegations of election rigging by various political parties in Pakistan, including PTI, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F), with PTI protesting since the February 8 polls.
Despite no single party securing a majority, at least 90 independent candidates supported by PTI won seats, later affiliating with the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) to claim reserved seats for women and minorities.