The United States House of Representatives on Wednesday voted overwhelmingly in favor of an impartial investigation into claims of election manipulation in Pakistan following the February 8 national polls.

The resolution HR901, which was passed with a vote of 368-7, emphasizes the need for people’s participation in the democratic process in the South Asian country.

The February elections, though largely peaceful, were marred by a nationwide mobile internet shutdown and unusually delayed results, leading to accusations that the vote was rigged.

These accusations were most forcefully raised by former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), whose leaders had to participate in the electoral contest as independent candidates after being deprived of their symbol, the cricket bat, following a legal battle over an intra-party election deemed flawed by the election authority.

The resolution calls for a “full and independent investigation of claims of interference or irregularities in Pakistan’s February 2024 election.”

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It also condemns “attempts to suppress the people of Pakistan’s participation in their democracy, including through harassment, intimidation, violence, arbitrary detention, restrictions on access to the Internet and telecommunications, or any violation of their human, civil, or political rights.”

The resolution concludes by urging the government to uphold democratic and electoral institutions, human rights, and the rule of law, asking it to respect the fundamental guarantees of due process, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, and speech of the people of Pakistan.

It also condemns “any effort to subvert the political, electoral, or judicial processes of Pakistan.”

The margin of the vote was significant, with 85% of House members voting on it and 98% voting in favor of the resolution. This suggests strong bipartisan support for the investigation.

Michael Kugelman, Director of South Asia Institute at The Wilson Center in Washington, commented on the vote, saying, “This is quite significant.”

This resolution is the latest development in the ongoing political turmoil in Pakistan. It remains to be seen what impact it will have on the country’s political landscape.

Unusual vote a reminder of Kerry-Logar Act

Although Kugelman said the resolution will not have “much impact on the US policy towards Pakistan” the vote is a reminder of Kerry-Logar Bill passed by the US Congress in 2009 as Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act of 2009.

The Bill authorized military aid for Pakistan but it also marked the beginning of the unraveling of ties between Islamabad and Washington.