Donald Lu demands inquiry into allegations of electoral rigging in Pakistan

Donald Lu, the US Assistant Secretary of State, once again dismissed former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s allegations that the US orchestrated his removal from power by supporting the opposition’s no-confidence motion in April 2022.

Speaking before a Congressional panel on Wednesday, the senior US diplomat categorically stated: “I want to emphasize that this conspiracy theory is false and completely unfounded.” The hearing, titled ‘Pakistan After the Elections: Examining the Future of Democracy in Pakistan and the US-Pakistan Relationship,’ was convened by the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee, with the assistant secretary serving as the primary witness.

Responding to questions regarding the claims made by the founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the US assistant secretary addressed media reports regarding an alleged leaked cipher that Khan asserted contained a threat issued by Lu during a meeting with then-Pakistan’s ambassador Asad Majeed in Washington in 2022, just days before the PTI-led government was ousted.

Lu clarified, “At no point does it accuse the United States government or myself of taking any action against Imran Khan.

“Additionally, the US diplomat noted that Pakistan’s ambassador to Washington at the time, Asad Majeed, had testified to his government that there was no conspiracy. We respect Pakistan’s sovereignty and uphold the principle that the Pakistani people should be the sole arbiters in choosing their leaders through democratic processes,” remarked the US diplomat.

The cipher controversy first surfaced on March 27, 2022, when Khan, less than a month before his removal in April 2022, waved a letter during a public rally, alleging it to be a cipher from a foreign nation that colluded with his political adversaries to topple the PTI government.

However, he did not disclose the letter’s contents or the name of the nation from which it originated. Later, he accused the United States of plotting against him, alleging that Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Affairs Donald Lu had advocated for his removal.

The cipher was transmitted by then-Pakistan’s ambassador to the US, Asad Majeed.

Regarding the February 8 general election, Lu called for an inquiry into allegations of electoral fraud, underscoring the US’s close monitoring of the investigation into these claims.

He also cited “undue restrictions on freedom of expression and peaceful assembly” during the February 8 polls.

The US diplomat condemned electoral violence and rights infringements, urging the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to hold those involved in election rigging accountable and advocating for transparency in the process.

Furthermore, Lu emphasized the importance of economic reforms and private sector-led investment in addressing Pakistan’s mounting debt challenge and fostering economic growth.

He reiterated the US’s commitment to supporting a peaceful, democratic, and prosperous Pakistan. In terms of bilateral relations, Lu characterized the US’s relationship with Pakistan as at an “inflection point,” citing the end of the conflict in Afghanistan as an opportunity for a mutually beneficial relationship with Pakistan on its own terms.