The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has taken strong exception to interim Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar’s statement that “fair” could happen without PTI chief Imran Khan and his jailed party members.

“Given that the courts have yet to establish guilt in all such cases, Mr Kakar’s claims are anti-democratic and ill-judged,” Hina Jilani, the HRCP chairperson, said in a statement on Monday.

In an interview with the Associated Press, which was published on Sunday, Kakar said that polls that are scheduled to be held in Pakistan in the final week of January 2024 could take place without Khan and his incarcerated party members.

Several members of PTI are in jail following the crackdown on violent protesters who vandalised state buildings and military installations on May 9.

“The prime minister should be aware that it is not for him or his government to decide unilaterally what constitutes a ‘fair’ election,” the commission chairperson said.

Jilani further spoke about the “lack” of a level playing field ahead of elections where the PTI leadership was apparently dismantled through the government crackdown and cases.

“This is cause for concern because it perpetuates a pattern of pre-election manipulation that was also visible in 2018,” Jilani said and condemned the treatment meted out to PTI President Parvez Elahi, who was rearrested against the directive of the Lahore High Court.

On Sunday, the PTI said that the caretaker PM should know that any election conducted without the involvement of Khan or PTI would be “unconstitutional”.

The commission reminded the government that the responsibility for ensuring “free and fair elections” falls to the Election Commission of Pakistan. “The caretaker government must desist from making irresponsible, partisan statements on matters not within its mandate. Instead, it must ensure that an environment conducive to free, fair, credible and inclusive elections is created and maintained.”