The Foreign Office spokesperson, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, emphasized Pakistan's sovereignty and independence in response to the US suggestion for an investigation into alleged discrepancies in the February 8 general elections. Baloch, during her weekly press briefing on Friday, firmly stated that Pakistan cannot be directed by any foreign country, reiterating the nation's right to make decisions regarding its internal affairs autonomously.
Baloch's remarks came in the wake of statements made by her US counterpart, Matthew Miller, regarding the need for transparent investigations into reported irregularities in Pakistan's elections. Miller's comments were prompted by allegations of election tampering, particularly by candidates backed by Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, following the delayed announcement of election results by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
Despite concerns expressed by US officials and lawmakers, including a group of Democratic Party legislators, about election rigging in Pakistan, Baloch emphasized that Pakistan has robust domestic mechanisms to address electoral issues. She highlighted Pakistan's status as a vibrant democracy and emphasized the nation's ability to handle election-related matters internally.
Furthermore, Baloch refrained from commenting on Imran Khan's correspondence with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) regarding a potential election audit's linkage to future financial support. She redirected inquiries regarding IMF-related matters to the Ministry of Finance, indicating that they are better positioned to address such issues.
