ISLAMABAD: The United States (US) was not supposed to dictate “exact specifics” to Pakistan for holding national elections, the State Department said on Thursday, amid allegations of pre-poll rigging and government excesses by former prime minister Imran Khan’s party ahead of national elections on Feb. 8.
Khan, a 71-year-old former cricket star, has been embroiled in a tangle of political and legal battles since he was ousted as prime minister in April 2022. He has not been seen in public since he was jailed for three years in August for unlawfully selling state gifts while in office from 2018 to 2022.
The ex-premier has been disqualified from contesting the national elections because of the corruption conviction, but he nevertheless filed nominations for elections which were rejected. Khan, widely seen as the country’s most popular leader, says he is being targeted by the powerful military, which wants to keep him out of the polls. The military denies this.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s election commission has accepted former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s nomination from two constituencies for the elections, weeks after a court overturned his two graft convictions.
Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party sees the recent judgments granting relief to Sharif, his arch-rival, as favors given to his Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party, which seems poised to take over the reins of the country once again.
“We want to see free and fair elections that are conducted in accordance with Pakistan’s laws,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said at a press briefing in Washington on Thursday, when asked about the alleged government excesses against Khan and his party ahead of the polls.
“It’s not for the United States to dictate to Pakistan how it conducts – the exact specifics of how it conducts its election, but to make clear that we want to see those elections conducted in a free, fair, and peaceful manner that includes freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, and ultimately a full, open, reliable, vibrant democratic process.”
Declining to comment on the specific allegations, the State Department spokesman said the US had always made it clear that it was for the Pakistani people to choose their government.
“We will continue to support democratic expression and a vibrant democracy in Pakistan,” Miller said at the briefing.
“Our interest, as you’ve heard me say before, is in the democratic process. We want to see free and fair elections which are conducted in accordance with Pakistan’s laws, and we don’t support one candidate or party over another in Pakistan or anywhere else in the world.”
Pakistan has witnessed a political turmoil since the ouster of Khan in a parliamentary no-confidence vote, which also took an economic toll on the South Asian country. Islamabad secured a last-gasp $3 billion financing in June 2023 from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that saved the country from a sovereign debt default.
After much delay, the South Asian country is finally headed to national election in February that analysts say would bring some stability and put Pakistan back on path to the much-needed economic recovery.
Not for US to dictate Pakistan ‘exact specifics’ for elections — State Department
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Not for US to dictate Pakistan ‘exact specifics’ for elections — State Department
- The State Department spokesman says Washington will continue to support democratic expression, a ‘vibrant’ democracy in Pakistan
- The statement comes in response to allegations of pre-poll rigging, government excesses against candidates by ex-PM Khan’s party
Pakistan to play India in T20 World Cup, government says
- Islamabad announced boycotting the Feb. 15 match in Colombo to protest the ICC’s exclusion of Bangladesh from the T20 World Cup
- Pakistan’s government says the decision to play India is taken to protect ‘spirit of cricket and to support the continuity of global sport’
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has cleared the country’s cricket team to play India in the T20 World Cup on Feb. 15, the Pakistani government announced late Monday, ending a week-long standoff.
Islamabad announced boycotting the Feb. 15 match in Colombo to protest the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) exclusion of Bangladesh from the T20 World Cup, following Dhaka’s decision to not play matches in India owing to security fears.
On Sunday, ICC Deputy Chairman Imran Khwaja arrived in Lahore for talks with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Aminul Islam as the sport’s governing body strived to save the high-stakes T20 World Cup encounter.
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi met PM Sharif late Monday and briefed him regarding the outcomes of high-level deliberations held between the PCB, Bangladesh board and ICC representatives, the Pakistani government said on X.
“The Government of Pakistan has reviewed the formal requests extended to the PCB by the Bangladesh Cricket Board, as well as the supporting communications from Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates, and other member nations. These correspondences sought Pakistan’s leadership in securing a viable solution to recent challenges,” the Pakistani government said.
“In view of the outcomes achieved in multilateral discussions, as well as the request of friendly countries, the Government of Pakistan hereby directs the Pakistan National Cricket Team to take the field on February 15, 2026, for its scheduled fixture in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.”
The BCB earlier thanked the PCB, ICC and all others for their positive roles in trying to “overcome recent challenges,” particularly thanking PCB Chairman Naqvi and Pakistani cricket fans for demonstrating “exemplary sportsmanship and solidarity.”
“We are deeply moved by Pakistan’s efforts to go above and beyond in supporting Bangladesh during this period. Long may our brotherhood flourish,” BCB President Islam said in a statement.
“Following my short visit to Pakistan yesterday and given the forthcoming outcomes of our discussions, I request Pakistan to play the ICC T20 World Cup game on 15 February against India for the benefit of the entire cricket ecosystem.”
The dispute stemmed from the ICC’s decision to replace Bangladesh with Scotland last month after Bangladesh refused to play tournament matches in India. Dhaka’s decision followed the removal of Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League (IPL). He was bought for $1 million by the IPL’s Kolkata Knight Riders, but on Jan. 3 the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) ordered Kolkata to release Mustafizur without a public explanation but amid regional tensions.
Pakistani cricket authorities subsequently announced boycotting the match against India at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Feb. 15. An India-Pakistan fixture is the sport’s most lucrative asset, generating a massive share of global broadcasting and sponsorship revenue.
“This decision [to play India in T20 World Cup] has been taken with the aim of protecting the spirit of cricket, and to support the continuity of this global sport in all participating nations,” the Pakistani government said.
“We remain confident that our team will carry the spirit of sportsmanship and national pride onto the field as they compete for global glory.”
